Embark Program

REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures, in collaboration with Founded Outdoors, offers the Embark program to support early-stage outdoor brand entrepreneurs from Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Path Ahead Ventures is REI’s initiative to accelerate success for founders of color by providing a network of mentorship, customer connections, and capital investment. Founded Outdoors works with entrepreneurs from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds to reduce systemic barriers in the outdoor industry. Together, they aim to create a more inclusive and representative outdoor industry by supporting diverse business founders. Embark is a 3-month virtual program that provides structured, hands-on support for up to 20 selected entrepreneurs. The program includes weekly workshops, office hours, fireside chats with industry leaders, and peer group meetings to encourage collaboration, learning, and community-building. Topics covered include customer interviews, market testing, prototyping, business modeling, pricing, branding, go-to-market strategies, social media, finance, and pitching. In addition to the training, the program culminates with a virtual graduation and provides founders with a $5,000 non-dilutive grant to invest in their businesses. Eligible applicants must identify as a person of color from Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, or AAPI communities and must be at least 18 years old. The program is open to U.S.-based individuals, though U.S. citizenship is not required. Applicants must either be in the early design or prototype stage of their product or have launched a company within the past year that has not yet entered manufacturing and has earned less than $20,000 in revenue. The product or service must relate to outdoor experiences, such as gear, apparel, mobile apps, websites, outdoor services, food and beverage, skincare, or similar. Applications for the 2025 Embark cohort opened on May 19, 2025, and closed on June 18, 2025. Selected participants were notified of their acceptance on July 11, 2025. The program officially kicks off on September 4, 2025, with an in-person event at REI headquarters and concludes on November 21, 2025, with a virtual graduation ceremony. Although applications for the 2025 cycle are now closed, the program is recurring, and future cycles are anticipated. The submission process involves completing an online application detailing the business idea, personal background, and the vision for the proposed outdoor product or service. Applicants are evaluated based on their potential for growth, relevance to the outdoor industry, and alignment with the mission of promoting equity and inclusion. The program does not require participants to pay or give up equity in their business. Furthermore, accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities or language translation needs. For additional inquiries or support, interested applicants are directed to contact the Path Ahead Ventures team at [email protected]. While no PDF application or guidelines link is provided, the official website hosts extensive program details, testimonials from past participants, and a list of mentors and industry leaders associated with the program. REI’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is embedded throughout the Embark initiative, positioning it as a meaningful launchpad for entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented backgrounds in the outdoor space.

Emphasize authentic lived experience, mission alignment with equity and the outdoors, and readiness to build within six months.