Bend Outdoor Worx (BOW), Central Oregon’s outdoor industry accelerator, announced that applications for their 2025 cohort are now open.
Bend Outdoor Worx has begun its search for outdoor product companies to join the 2025 cohort which runs January-May 2025. The selected companies will receive mentorship from BOW’s industry founders and core mentors in areas where developing companies may need support. The in-depth and personalized program consists of a 14-week curriculum followed by four monthly sessions. Through discovery meetings, analysis, and curriculum building, BOW identifies the unique needs of each company, providing guidance from both founders and an extended mentor group. The accelerator further aids these companies by connecting them with crucial resources for success, including legal assistance, financial planning, marketing, logistics, sales, digital marketing, and product development.
“We are always excited to open a new cohort and welcome companies that can benefit from our program,” says Gary Bracelin, BOW co-founder. “Each year, we look for innovative businesses that will thrive within our community. Our ability to provide one-on-one assistance, in addition to our in-depth, weekly and monthly sessions, allows us to truly help these companies reach their potential. We look forward to seeing all the great applicants this year.”
Since 2014, BOW has graduated 26 outdoor product companies and has an 85 percent success rate with twenty-two of the companies still in business. To date, two of the businesses have had successful exits — Picky Bars sold to Laird Superfoods, and Cairn to Outside Magazine.
Interested companies can apply here bendoutdoorworx.com/application. Application deadline is October 31, 2024. Full details are on the website or on Instagram @bow.bendoutdoorworx
About BOW:
After assessing common needs from outdoor industry businesses, Bend Outdoor Worx (BOW) was initially conceived in 2013 by Gary Bracelin, a long-time Bend resident and outdoor industry expert. BOW was officially launched in April 2014 when additional industry experts Will Blount, Justin Rae, and Eric Meade joined Bracelin. The founders represent various skill sets and a multitude of experiences with successful organizations. BOW also has a deep pool of extended mentors who lend their expertise periodically, as well as partnerships with White-Summers Law, Price Fronk & Co, LLP, the Relativity Agency, and Algofy Outdoors. BOW is additionally sponsored by City of Bend, Ruffwear, IMC, US Bank, Robert Axel Project/Old Man Mountain, Tokyo Starfish, Village Capital and Relativity. For additional information on BOW, contact Gary Bracelin at gbracelin@gmail.com.
BOW’s Manifesto:
We’re dreamers, radicals, achievers, believers, and vanguards with a shared belief and a common goal. We’re an independent organization with an independent spirit—and we love the outdoors. We embrace the unpredictable nature and the grit it takes to navigate the hurdles and obstacles in our industry. In fact, we enjoy it. We’re fearless, but we value vulnerability. We encourage risk, but we support solid strategy. We’re not even remotely interested in the status quo. We’re interested in lending our expertise, our stories, and our respect for the crazy-but-we-love-it volatility of the outdoor industry to help our companies adapt, adjust, and achieve.
