Waypoint Accelerator

Current and Past Cohorts

These promising outdoor-focused companies were selected through a competitive process for the Waypoint Accelerator program. Check out the next generation of great outdoor entrepreneurs below!

Current Cohort 5: 2023

ARCA Works

ARCA Works crafts premium whitewater kayaking paddles that are lighter, stronger, and redefine performance on the water.

Blue Ridge Elder Adventures

Blue Ridge Elder Adventures provides nature-based adventures for the elders in our community by offering skilled therapeutic services and accessible transportation to community events and parks of WNC.

High Country Guide Service & Chosen River Outfitters, LLC

High Country Guide Service & Chosen River Outfitters, LLC provides professional guided fly fishing trips in the Boone area and surrounding streams, and fishing trips to Alaska, since 2011.

Lucky Crow Hat Co.

Lucky Crow Hat Co. is a female owned and operated headwear company located in Marion, North Carolina, specializing in custom patch hats for both corporate customers as well as outdoor retailers along the East Coast.

Mountain Bike Skills Factory

Mountain Bike Skills Factory delivers high quality mountain bike skills instruction through private lessons and group clinics in the mountains of North Carolina with the most experienced and highly certified instructors in the USA.

Peter Ripmaster

Peter Ripmaster is a public speaker, 50 marathons in 50 states finisher, Iditarod Trail Invitational Champion, author, and Ultra Runner ready to take his message of perseverance and mindfulness to the masses.

Riverskate

Riverskate is a next-generation whitewater stand up paddling board company custom-made in WNC for those who want to unlock new levels of performance on the river.

Silva & Soma

Silva & Soma is a backpacking guide and offers nature retreats in the backcountry, as well as wellness gatherings in the front country including naturalism walks and guided forest bathing.

Past Cohorts:

Cohort 1 - 2019

Big Weekend

Big Weekend is a recreation and leisure brand featuring the gear you need to max out your next “Big Weekend” with style and ease.

Blue Ridge Hiking Company

Blue Ridge Hiking Company is Western North Carolina’s premier guiding service for day hikes and backpacking trips, which operates a retail shop and “The Trail-er” – an Appalachian Trail bunkhouse.

Blyss Running

Blyss Running is a woman-owned small business designing flattering and functional running apparel for women that inspires their empowerment and joy.

Campa

Campa provides a searchable, filterable, comprehensive list of camps and extracurricular programs with streamlined “one form” registration and payment systems – helping you get your child into the right camp at the right time.

Fifth Element Camping

Fifth Element Camping makes a modular micro camper system for the Honda Element that can be installed or removed in minutes – turning your Element into a home on the road whenever you want it.

OGRE

Ogre builds truck organization solutions for fly fishermen, mountain bikers, kayakers, surfers, snowboarders and other outdoor enthusiasts to maximize their time outdoors instead of preparing for it.

Rent This Rod

Rent This Rod is an online fly-fishing company that rents high-end fly rods and ships them anywhere in the continental United States.

Rockgeist

Rockgeist specializes in custom bikepacking gear tailored to fit the exact shape of your bike with features that you choose.

Shira Forge

Shira Forge produces heirloom-quality axes and knives the way they have been made for generations – forged in the fire and made to be used whether on the trail, in camp or at the cabin.

The Tarpestry Co.

The Tarpestry is a soft and durable weather-resistant outdoor blanket and tarp that puts a layer between you and nature, with style.

Cohort 2 - 2020

Asheville Adventure Company

Asheville Adventure Company’s meticulously planned trips make intimidating experiences accessible to the average consumer, showcasing the most awe-inspiring places in WNC.

Asheville Picnic Company

Asheville Picnic Company provides a picnic meal with famous food products made in Asheville for you to take on your outdoor adventures in WNC.

Block by Block Industries

Block by Block trains and employs individuals with barriers to employment in manufacturing high quality sewn goods for the outdoor industry.

Lake Lure Rowing

Lake Lure Rowing is expanding rowing opportunities in Western North Carolina with an organization founded on competition and fun.

North Cove Social Club

Sited on 150+ glorious rolling acres at the base of the Linville Gorge, North Cove Social Club will be the premiere destination for disc golf in the United States.

OBX On the Fly

OBX On the Fly is the Outer Banks’ first and only full-service fly shop, offering fly fishing products, guide services, merchandise, and classes, including a custom fly rod building class.

Plantd Climbing

Plantd Climbing builds locally-made, quality durable goods and training tools for the climbing industry and community, and is the Southeast’s only local supplier of volumes and texture services.

Rove Cycling

Rove is a Brevard-based cycling development program delivering year-round adult and summer youth instruction showcasing the Southeast’s best riding.

WNC Outdoor Collective

WNC Outdoor Collective is a collective of local and regional makers showcasing and selling specialized well-crafted products and services in a common retail storefront that surrounds a 3,000ft2 outdoor gathering space for outdoor enthusiasts.

Cohort 3 - 2021

Adventure Nerds

Adventure Nerds is a marketplace, network, and publishing company for hyper-specific mini guidebooks about multi-day outdoor adventures.

Asheville Wellness Tours

Asheville Wellness Tours offers curated mini-retreats that support well-being and joy, connecting guests to nature, local business, and themselves.

FlyRabbit

FlyRabbit makes a useful tool for the fly fishing experience that pays for itself. When you lose flies, you lose money. We’ve solved that.

Green Moose

Green Moose is an avocado based chocolate mousse, formulated to deliver quick, clean energy on the go. All the convenience without the compromise.

Hellbender Paddleboards

Hellbender Paddleboards designs and creates paddleboards, paddling accessories, and apparel for people who are passionate about paddle boarding adventures.

KidCycle Club

KidCycle Club is a family of biking enthusiasts who want to share the love of the outdoors with your family to develop confidence and connection.

Meraki Components

Meraki Components provides mountain bikers with pedals that inspire confidence and push their riding boundaries.

Timber Ninja Outdoors

Timber Ninja is an innovative manufacturer of mobile hunting gear that specializes in carbon fiber products.

Trekroll

Trekroll is a roomy bedroll-style sleeping bag that includes a fitted air bed with a built-in foot pump and packs in a weatherproof carry duffel. Comfort on the road, in the field or at the campground. Machine washable grab & go sleeping gear manufactured in the USA.

Urban Outdoors

Urban Outdoors empowers urban dwellers to participate in local outdoor adventure activities through content, resources, and community.

Cohort 4 - 2022

The Flying Bike Tours

An electric bike tour company that creates transformative tours to positively impact our guests, employees and community.

Swamie

Swamie is a low-profile, coupling device that keeps your phone safe and secure when you don't need it and accessible when you do.

Food For Adventures

Food for Adventures provides a variety of services to the outdoor industry such as Personal Chef & Catering, outdoor education (edible & medicinal plant tours), backcountry cooking classes, nutrition consulting, and gear design.

Conscious Gear

Conscious Gear celebrates body diversity in the outdoors with outerwear and outdoor gear that is size inclusive with a focus on wearable hydration.

Stringbean Bags

Stringbean Bags is an outdoor bag brand dedicated to making lightweight, durable and versatile gear for your bike and body.

Appalachian Riverboard Company

Appalachian Riverboard Company builds riverboards and offers guided riverboarding trips so that you can experience being IN the water instead of on it.

PIVOTPoint WNC

PIVOTPoint WNC is a therapeutic outdoor adventure program, offering intentional group facilitation to those historically considered at-risk and those facing challenges around mental health, behavioral health, and substance use.

North State Overland

North State designs and builds modular truck rack systems to provide flexible support for families and friends to get outside, exploring together.

Adventure Cocoon

Adventure Cocoon is a social enterprise that inspires pride, purpose & opportunity with products that are designed for the practical & stylish explorer.