Outdoor Travel Company Arrive Outdoors Announces $4.75M in Seed Funding To Expand Operations
The company offers camping, backpacking, snow apparel, and day hiking gear available for rent with delivery anywhere in the contiguous U.S.
Santa Monica, CA. — July 23, 2020 — Arrive Outdoors, the outdoor travel company that rents premium gear with delivery anywhere in the continental U.S., today announces $4.75M in seed funding. Led by Freestyle Capital, participating investors in the round include Science Inc., Corigin Ventures, Narrative Fund, AVG Basecamp Fund, and James Reinhart and John Voris, CEO and former COO of thredUP. Arrive Outdoors is part of Science Inc., the Los Angeles-based studio and venture fund that partners with early-stage entrepreneurs to build transformative companies. Josh Felser, cofounder at Freestyle Capital, and Mike Jones, co-founder & CEO of Science Inc., have joined the board.
The company’s mission is to help people experience the outdoors sustainably by providing access to premium gear at a fraction of the retail price without the burden of storing or maintenance. The company taps into a consumer shift as more Americans favor renting over owning: 78 percent of millennials prefer to spend their money on experiences over products. Arrive Outdoors customers save an average of $1,032 per order when compared to buying gear at an outdoor gear retailer.
“With Arrive Outdoors we wanted to mitigate the hassle and cost of traditional outdoor gear purchase, storage and maintenance”, said Rachelle Snyder, co-founder and CEO of Arrive Outdoors. “The stress of getting the right gear and lugging it to your destination should not overshadow the fun and adventure of outdoor activities.”
The new capital will be used to grow the team, expand operations and fulfillment, and establish more partnerships with brands, parks and snow resorts.
“With the shift in millennial purchasing behavior from owning to renting, Arrive Outdoors simply makes sense”, said Josh Fesler of Freestyle Capital. “People prefer to spend their money on experiences over products and value sustainability, which is at the core of what Arrive Outdoors does.”
Earlier this month, Arrive Outdoors partnered with Washington State Parks, Michigan State Parks and Utah State Parks to make it easy for everyone to get the gear they need when visiting. Since launching these partnerships in June, and with the combination of camping being a popular summer activity, Arrive Outdoors has seen a significant increase in reservations and rentals.
In light of COVID-19, Arrive Outdoors recommends renters follow the National Park Service’s and CDC’s Recreate Responsibly guidelines. Arrive Outdoors has implemented extensive health and safety measures. The company thoroughly cleans and treats all gear after each rental. They use cleaning solutions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). For example, Arrive Outdoors washes, treats and line dries tents before each rental. All apparel is commercially laundered and treated with laundry additives to fight viruses.
Arrive Outdoors currently supports camping, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing trips and more. In addition to gear, Arrive Outdoors provides 1:1 support to share knowledge and build confidence in outdoor travel. The company partners directly with outdoor companies, organizations, nonprofits, park systems and resorts to provide an 11-star outdoor experience for all. To learn more about Arrive Outdoors or to rent gear for your next outdoor experience, visit arriveoutdoors.com.
About Arrive Outdoors
Arrive Outdoors is an outdoor travel company that partners with premium outdoor gear brands to offer their gear for rent. The company makes it possible to easily and sustainably experience the outdoors — select and rent what you need and get it delivered to your door or destination. Arrive Outdoors was the 2019 Outdoor Retailer of the Year. To learn more about Arrive Outdoors or to rent gear for your next outdoor experience, visit arriveoutdoors.com.
About Freestyle Capital
Freestyle Capital is a California-based venture capital that is focused on early-stage technology companies. All GPs are serial founders and the firm offers real-world experience and business finesse without stuffy investor baggage or hidden agendas. Freestyle Capital was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States.
