The pandemic caused outdoor recreation and sports explosion, including pickleball, golf, and fishing. But the interest in outdoor activities has persisted, in contrast to other pandemic-driven trends (virtual conferences, Zoom happy hours).
According to the Outdoor Industry Association, by the end of 2023, the number of Americans participating in outdoor activities grew 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 industry lacked innovation. The outdoor recreation category offered ample opportunities for entrepreneurs, ranging from cash payments and over-the-phone bookings to a gear market dominated by legacy brands.
Meanwhile, venture capitalists have also shown interest. According to PitchBook, venture capitalists (VCs) invested $48.60 million in 25 sports tech companies in 2019. After reaching $949.26 million and 53 companies in 2021, investments reached $189.71 million and 43 companies in 2023 during the venture capital winter. Even though that represents a significant decline from 2021, when venture capital investment broke all previous records across all industries, the money invested last year still represents a 290% increase over pre-pandemic levels from 2019.
Benjamin Lazarov, co-founder and CEO of AnyCreek, a startup that develops back-end business software and bookings for fishing and hunting guides, told TechCrunch that he never would have considered starting his company prior to the pandemic. However, in 2022, Lazarov attempted to hire a hunting guide in Vermont.
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