Moosejaw and the ICELab at Western Announce Third Outdoor Industry Accelerator to Drive Inclusivity and Promote Innovation in the Outdoors
From ICElab Accelerator:
For 2022, the popular Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator (MOA) returns to help founders from diverse backgrounds realize their dreams of growing a successful outdoor company. The 2022 accelerator program is the third collaboration between Moosejaw, a top outdoor retailer in the US, and ICELab, the leading outdoor-focused accelerator on the campus of Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. The program more than doubled the applicant pool from the first year to the second with well over 100 applications for the 2021 program. Applications for the 2022 accelerator program will be accepted from January 3, 2022 through February 3, 2022 at https://www.moosejaw.com/content/moosejaw-outdoor-accelerator.
“It has been rewarding to be personally involved with these founders and their journeys,” said Eoin Comerford, CEO, Moosejaw. “In partnership with the talented team at the ICELab, we’ve helped several outdoor companies launch and grow their businesses. We remain committed to this unique opportunity to connect with like-minded founders with a passion for the outdoors, and we will continue to look for ways to drive inclusivity in our industry.”
The 2022 Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator will continue to focus on underrepresented groups within the outdoor industry. New for 2022, the In Solidarity Project, which created and stewards the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge, will support the accelerator with access to educational and network resources. Moosejaw customers will again have the opportunity to vote on the final accelerator participants and ideas.
“One of the most valuable lessons our team took away from the Moosejaw Outdoor Accelerator was the importance and impact of collaboration and community. We worked with other companies in similar stages and similar market spaces, and were able to get a lot more done and have a lot more fun doing it,” said Charlotte Massey, Co-founder of SheFly Apparel.
The four chosen outdoor startups will participate in a comprehensive program to turbocharge their growth:
- An 8-week intensive mentoring program guided by ICELab and based on its established curriculum, including 5 weeks on location at Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO and a week in Boulder, CO including sessions with Moosejaw experts on strategy, marketing, eCommerce and retail.
- Exclusive product launch on Moosejaw.com and in Moosejaw stores with a complete marketing and social media package.
- Connection to the In Solidarity Project with access to resources that help build inclusivity into their business from the ground up.
- Legal resources provided by the law firm of Holland & Hart LLP for everything from company formation and investment agreements to intellectual property.
The law firm of Holland & Hart LLP is supporting Moosejaw, the ICELab at Western, and Camber Outdoors to sponsor the Outdoor Accelerator. “We really appreciate and acknowledge the firm’s commitment to, and experience in, the outdoor industry,” said David Assad, ICELab Director. “Holland & Hart has provided invaluable knowledge to the entrepreneurs that participated in our first Outdoor Industry Accelerator, and it has award-winning corporate and intellectual property practices in the Mountain West region.”
“Some of us at the ICELab will serve on the selection committee,” added Assad. “And, part of our thinking will involve those startup companies that may relocate to the valley where our continued involvement will help these new companies be as successful as possible.”
About Moosejaw: Founded in 1992, Moosejaw is a leading online active outdoor retailer with a large web presence as well as 12 physical stores. It carries more than 500 brands, including The North Face, Marmot, Fjallraven and includes an extensive assortment of apparel and gear for climbing, hiking, camping, snow sports, yoga, swimming and biking. Acquired by Walmart in 2017, Moosejaw is headquartered in Madison Heights, Michigan.
For more information, please visit Moosejaw.com.
About ICELab at Western: The ICELab enables you to live where you want to play and is Gunnison’s all-in-one business resource center. The facility includes coworking space, private office space, fully equipped conference rooms and even a coffee-shop. Our location on the Western Colorado University campus makes the ICELab an ideal fusion point for the business community and the University.
For more information, please visit ICELab.co.
About Western Colorado University: Situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Western Colorado University offers a vast outdoor research laboratory with unparalleled opportunities for students to learn and gain hands-on experience. The highly ranked university has 3,000+ undergraduates and offers 100+ areas of study.
For more information, please visit Western.edu.
In Solidarity Project: Created and steward the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge and we work closely with industry partners to facilitate and lead DEI-focused consulting projects and speaking engagements.
For more information, please visit InSolidarityProject.com.
About Holland & Hart LLP: Founded in 1947, Holland & Hart is a full-service Am Law 200 firm with offices in eight states and in Washington, D.C. We deliver integrated legal solutions to regional, national, and international clients of all sizes in a diverse range of industries. For more information, visit hollandhart.com.
