The pandemic caused an explosion in outdoor activities and sports, including pickleball, golf, and fishing. But the interest in outdoor activities has persisted, in contrast to other pandemic-driven fads (remote conferences, Zoom happy hours).
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, by the end of 2023, the number of Americans who participate in outdoor activities climbed to a record 175.8 million, or 57% of all Americans aged 6 and older.
But the influx of interest exposed the lack of innovation in many parts of this industry. From over-the-phone bookings to cash payments to a gear market dominated by legacy brands, the outdoor recreation category was full of opportunity for entrepreneurs.
In the past couple of years, entrepreneurs have built SaaS software for hunting and fishing guides. Founders have developed AI-powered companies that find and book golf tee times. Kevin Durant invested in a startup that helps people locate pickleball courts. And the list goes on.
VCs, meanwhile, have been interested as well. In 2019, VCs invested $48.60 million into 25 sports tech companies, according to PitchBook. In 2021 that rose to $949.26 million and 53 companies; in 2023, during the VC winter, investments totaled $189.71 million and 43 companies. While that’s a major crash from 2021 (when VC investing was record-breaking across all industries), the dollars invested last year still represent a 290% increase over 2019’s pre-pandemic levels.
Online acceleration
Benjamin Lazarov, the co-founder and CEO of AnyCreek, a startup building booking and back-end business software for fishing and hunting guides, told TechCrunch that he would never have thought of building his company before the pandemic. But then Lazarov tried to book a hunting guide in Vermont in 2022.
He had asked the cashier at a nearby Orvis for some local guide recommendations and she gave him a paper list of seven names to call. As he called and left voicemails, it dawned on him that everything else had moved online during COVID-19, why was he still trying to book a guided hunt over the phone? After that he left his role as a regional director of growth at Compass and launched AnyCreek.
AI Applications Launchpad Battlefield Additional Startups
A new generation of businesses wants to improve outdoor activities like hunting and golf.
Rebecca Szkutak August 4, 2024, 1:00 PM PDT Comment
outdoor activities, startups, and venture capital
Photo Credits: Getty Images / Ken Thorsteinsson
The pandemic caused an explosion in outdoor activities and sports, including pickleball, golf, and fishing. But the interest in outdoor activities has persisted, in contrast to other pandemic-driven fads (remote conferences, Zoom happy hours).
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, by the end of 2023, the number of Americans who participate in outdoor activities climbed to a record 175.8 million, or 57% of all Americans aged 6 and older.
However, the surge in interest revealed that many areas of this business lacked innovation. From phone reservations to
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