COALITION CONNECT: March 2022
Welcome to COALITION CONNECT.
This month’s edition of Coalition connect is all about opportunities for the founders, from a recent outdoor retailer partnership to new ways to partner with an existing sports accelerator. Let’s jump right into those programs and opportunities.
R/GA Ventures / COALITION partners with REI Path Ahead Ventures
We’re excited to share the recently launched of the Navigate program in partnership with REI Co-op’s Path Ahead Ventures, the venture arm of the outdoor retail company REI.
We are looking for early-stage and established US startups that are retail ready in activity or outside categories – apparel and footwear, gear (electronic) / gear (non-electronic), software / App, CPG (e.g., food and beverage, health, and wellness), experiences or services.
The Navigate program supports emerging Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs in the outdoor industry by offering opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. The program will provide funding, mentorship, curated programming, and access to REI’s production, distribution, marketing services, and talent.
REI Co-op's Path Ahead Ventures offers full-spectrum support to Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x and AAPI-owned and led startups. With a goal to accelerate the success of founders of color, whether you're growing a business or just starting out.
COALITION is excited to share its partner, Arizona State University has kicked off its 2nd Annual Venture Challenge.
Sun Devil Athletics, the Global Sport Institute, and the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University, have launched their second annual Sun Devil Athletics' Venture Challenge – focused on supporting start-ups in the sports vertical while keeping Sun Devil Athletics on the cutting edge of new technology.
Click here for more program info: Sun Devil Athletics $25K + mentorship
Applications are open now until April 1st: click here to apply
Startups affiliated with R/GA Ventures are eligible for the following AWS Activate Portfolio benefits:
Cloud credits: Experiment, build, and grow with up to $10,000 in free AWS Cloud credits valid for 2 years.
Business support: Receive 1 year of AWS Business Support (up to $5,000 ) for 24/7 access to technical support and architectural guidance from AWS Cloud support engineers as you build and test.
Exclusive content & offers: Take advantage of discounts, free products, recommended content, and a library of AWS services and tools through a personalized AWS Activate console.
To apply, use the link and case-sensitive Organization ID (OrgID) code below. This OrgID is a unique identifier that affiliates you with R/GA Ventures and should not be shared.
Application link: https://console.aws.amazon.com/activate/home/#/apply/portfolio
Organization ID (case-sensitive): 0azD8
It takes 7-10 business days on average for AWS to process an application after submission.
HAVE AN IDEA?
If you would like to submit an opportunity, event, or thought leadership in our monthly newsletter, please contact me directly at sterling.douglas@rga.com. We aim to provide the information, guidance, and support that you need.
To learn more visit: COALITION Venture Studio