Christine Esposito, Managing Editor05.01.23
Specialty outdoor retailer REI’s Path Ahead Ventures has 18 new graduates from its Embark accelerator program—and this year’s class includes much more than tent makers.
In this second cohort, indie founders with personal care and wellness products were included in the three-month virtual program that provides entrepreneurs of color with resources and learning to turn their early-stage ideas into viable business options.
Natalia Ospina and Tiffany Yeh are indie entrepreneurs
"Entrepreneurs need specific skillsets, industry knowledge and professional connections to drive business growth. Historically, however, access to these resources has been limited based on demographic, geographic or socioeconomic factors," said Enhao Li, Founded Outdoors director of programming. "The Embark program is designed from the ground up to support our founders' needs as visionaries, business owners and members of a growing and diversifying outdoor community."
Among the 18 graduates of this second cohort at REI are the founders of Eztia, a Philadelphia wellness-based wearable company, and Elder Hair, a Denver-based hair care brand.
The founders share a common thread with many other indie entrepreneurs—building a brand that answered their own needs.
An Etzia wearable
The brand’s founder is Tiffany Yeh, a University of Pennsylvania-trained physician and materials engineer from MIT, who was sitting on ice packs to manage a health condition. She was determined to create cold therapy wearables that improve daily life.
In September 2021, Yeh began investigating cooling polymers (while she was in medical school). In July 2022, she graduated medical school and launched Eztia. She filed for a patent in November 2022.
Yeh said the Embark program provided her company an invaluable network of support and mentorship within the outdoors industry.
“We've built 1:1 relationships with trade show producers, running experts and other legendary veterans in outdoor recreation,” Yeh told Happi.
According to Yeh, Eztia plans to share its CryoActive Patch with elite runners later this year to reduce heat strain in competition and “give them a performance edge.”
Products will be rolled out to public in stages, focusing on regional distribution partnerships starting this year, according to the brand.
Elder hair care products.
Founder Natalia Ospina started to wear her hair naturally in her late 20s after years of straightening it. It was also during this time where she started to become an avid climber and hiker and noticed the lack of diversity in the outdoor industry.
“It was through affinity groups where I started meeting people who looked like me including my hair texture! I went straight to google to see if there were any educational resources on how to take care of my hair outside and found minimal resources. From there it was a natural progression that led me into conducting surveys and customer interviews, ultimately leading to Elder hair,” she told Happi.
“I was intrigued by an accelerator specifically for BIPOC founders in the outdoor industry, and at the time that I applied, Elder was just an idea that I had barely even told anybody about,” she said. “I was excited for the opportunity for mentorship and to learn from other entrepreneurs who were at different stages than me.”
Ospina, who is formally trained as an herbalist, told Happi she aims to have her hair care products on the market in November.
In this second cohort, indie founders with personal care and wellness products were included in the three-month virtual program that provides entrepreneurs of color with resources and learning to turn their early-stage ideas into viable business options.
Personal Care & Wellness Indies
The program, created in partnership with Founded Outdoors, is part of REI Path Ahead Ventures’ multi-year $30 million commitment to partner with founders of color as they start and scale their businesses in the outdoor industry. The Embark program connects Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, Asian American and Pacific Islander founders to industry and startup experts as they learn best practices and gather valuable feedback on their businesses. Each participating company receives a $10,000 equity-free grant to kickstart its business. In addition to capital, founders are also connected to a community of peers and mentors to support their continued growth in the industry.Natalia Ospina and Tiffany Yeh are indie entrepreneurs
"Entrepreneurs need specific skillsets, industry knowledge and professional connections to drive business growth. Historically, however, access to these resources has been limited based on demographic, geographic or socioeconomic factors," said Enhao Li, Founded Outdoors director of programming. "The Embark program is designed from the ground up to support our founders' needs as visionaries, business owners and members of a growing and diversifying outdoor community."
Among the 18 graduates of this second cohort at REI are the founders of Eztia, a Philadelphia wellness-based wearable company, and Elder Hair, a Denver-based hair care brand.
The founders share a common thread with many other indie entrepreneurs—building a brand that answered their own needs.
An Etzia wearable
Etzia
Eztia makes cold therapy wearables that deliver on-the-go icing, which the company describes as “friendly for both people and planet.”The brand’s founder is Tiffany Yeh, a University of Pennsylvania-trained physician and materials engineer from MIT, who was sitting on ice packs to manage a health condition. She was determined to create cold therapy wearables that improve daily life.
In September 2021, Yeh began investigating cooling polymers (while she was in medical school). In July 2022, she graduated medical school and launched Eztia. She filed for a patent in November 2022.
Yeh said the Embark program provided her company an invaluable network of support and mentorship within the outdoors industry.
“We've built 1:1 relationships with trade show producers, running experts and other legendary veterans in outdoor recreation,” Yeh told Happi.
According to Yeh, Eztia plans to share its CryoActive Patch with elite runners later this year to reduce heat strain in competition and “give them a performance edge.”
Products will be rolled out to public in stages, focusing on regional distribution partnerships starting this year, according to the brand.
Elder Hair
Elder Hair is a curly hair product line “rooted in community for adventurers who like to feel good while defining and nourishing their hair.”Elder hair care products.
“It was through affinity groups where I started meeting people who looked like me including my hair texture! I went straight to google to see if there were any educational resources on how to take care of my hair outside and found minimal resources. From there it was a natural progression that led me into conducting surveys and customer interviews, ultimately leading to Elder hair,” she told Happi.
“I was intrigued by an accelerator specifically for BIPOC founders in the outdoor industry, and at the time that I applied, Elder was just an idea that I had barely even told anybody about,” she said. “I was excited for the opportunity for mentorship and to learn from other entrepreneurs who were at different stages than me.”
Ospina, who is formally trained as an herbalist, told Happi she aims to have her hair care products on the market in November.
