Advertise on podcast: KORE Outdoors Podcast

The KORE Outdoors podcast was created for outdoor founders like Brent Firkser. He's been the audience, and now he's the guest for episode 50. Brent built GOSO Cookware, a carbon steel pan with a fully removable handle, and turned it into a $166K Kickstarter and a growing business he runs solo from his home in Nelson, BC. He breaks down how the KORE Network shaped GOSO from idea to launch, why finding a manufacturer willing to work with a solo founder was harder than designing the product, and how he wrestled with pricing a premium product. It's a candid look at building a physical-product business alone and defining success on your own terms. Register for the KORE Summit  Topics covered: Grief as the catalyst — regret minimization as the real reason he started GOSOThe KORE Network as a zero-to-one engine — mentorship, manufacturer intros, community over siloWinning over a manufacturer as a small, unproven customerKickstarter mechanics — the $1 pre-sale filter, the accidental early launch, hitting funding goal in hoursPricing psychology — second-guessing your own value, "buy once, cry once"Brand as vehicle for community, not the product itself — GOSO's ethos and the Backcountry Table eventDefining entrepreneurial success — control of time, enjoying the process, decoupling self-worth from the business cycleSolo-founder resilience — patience, perseverance, self-compassion, "weathering the storms"LinksGOSO websiteBackcountry Table event pageChuk OutdoorsRUXWildeloreLaunchboomBarebonesPete Day of Mosko Moto The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast  #koreoutdoors #craftgearfromhere

Lizzie Shilko launched Revi Gear, a Colorado ski helmet brand, in August 2025 — and spent her first season hand-delivering helmets out of her car trunk to shops across the state. She walks through the retail hustle that landed her first account, why customers make better sales reps than any sales force, and how a cold-email campaign — sent from a brand with no website, no funding, no logo — landed her a manufacturing partner. Lizzie also gets candid about the gap between her McKinsey background and founder life: no salary, no security, no manager to validate the work. She talks through the anxiety of founder-led social media, separating internal conviction from public comments, and why speed to market beat waiting to get it perfect. Approaching year one, she's shifting from sprint to endurance — fewer SKUs, more intentional growth. A tactical conversation for anyone building a hard goods brand from scratch. REGISTER for the KORE Summit Episode HighlightsShow up in person — retail hustle, hand-delivering helmets, founder-as-sales-force Pull marketing beats push marketing — customers become unpaid sales reps Fake it till you make it — sourcing manufacturers with zero brand infrastructure Manufacturer trust — flying overseas, wiring life savings, building the relationship Founder-led social media — growth, public criticism, internal vs. external validation Speed to market — pre-orders as real product-market-fit signal Sprint to endurance — shifting from launch speed to intentional, incremental growth Evolving "why" — from proving personal capability to building something others can be proud of LinksRevi Gear's websiteRevi Gear on InstagramRevi Gear on Christy SportsSeniqHalf DaysWild RyeAway luggageBuilt Bars The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast

Morgan Tuohy built the world's first dial-fit running belt in his attic — sewing a Boa dial salvaged from a worn-out pair of shoes onto a remade prototype. In this episode, he traces the line from crying through his first marathon at age 12 to launching Dera 35 days before we spoke. Morgan is candid about the failure of his first company, Near Zero Labs, and the lessons that reshaped how he builds: ask for help, pay for people's time, and don't try to be the person behind the sewing machine forever. He walks through finding a factory as a single-product startup, running email-first instead of chasing Instagram followers, and a five-minute masterclass on landing pages. Along the way, he pushes back on startup orthodoxy and shares why he wants Dera to feel like going on a run with him and his friends. Episode Topics The origin story: from marathon to makerBuilding prototypes in the attic and validating demandLessons from a failed first company Finding and winning over an overseas factory as a single-product startupEmail-first marketing and building an owned audienceAnatomy of the landing page and launch funnelBuilding community differently in the outdoor industryRethinking startup gospel: not being embarrassed by your first productLinksDera's websiteSign up for Second Nature's Slack communityCourier Socks Register for the KORE Summit For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Most outdoor founders think raising money means venture capital. Andrew Luter of Rio Chato Investments spends much of his time talking founders out of taking money and, instead, helps them to see what options they have that may be a better fit. He breaks down why most outdoor businesses are the wrong shape for VC, and why using equity to solve a cash-flow problem is like taking out a splinter with a chainsaw. We cover the funding tools founders overlook, the big wholesale orders that can quietly kill small brands, why coachability beats product and pitch, and the "danger zone" where a brand is too big to be small and too small to be big. Topics covered in the episode: When raising equity is the wrong moveThe REI/big-box order as a working-capital trapUnderused funding: PO financing, revenue-based financing, CDFIs, friends and familyWhy coachability beats product and pitchThe "danger zone": too big to be small, too small to be bigCommunity-first brands as the next wave in outdoorLinksAndrew's SubstackRio Chato InvestmentsHeather Kelly's SubstackConnect with Andrew on LinkedInConnect with Christian on LinkedIn Register for the KORE Summit The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast  #koreoutdoors #craftgearfromhere

Jensen Cipriano Brehm is the co-founder of Ombraz Sunglasses — the armless, cord-based eyewear brand that started with a broken pair on a camel safari in India and turned into one of the more distinctive product stories in the outdoor industry. In this conversation, Jensen walks through the founding journey, how Ombraz found their first customers in the ultralight backpacking and bikepacking worlds, their approach to building in-house content and media, raising a small round of funding while retaining equity, and how he and co-founder Nikolai run the whole operation remotely. Topics Origin story: broken sunglasses on a camel safari in India, four years of wearing a MacGyver'd pair, then building the companyFinding initial traction in ultralight backpacking and then exploding into bikepackingKeeping all content creation in-house — why agencies produce soulless, interchangeable outdoor contentRaising a Series A in 2020 — retaining equity while gaining runway for inventory and hiringDelegating early: 3PL, customer service, and letting go of egoOmbraz's 9 core brand pillars as a decision-making filterCo-founder dynamics with Nikolai — complementary skill sets, business coaching, and the Positive Intelligence frameworkRunning the business fully remote via Slack and monday.comDefining success as low stress, staying creative, and having funLinks Ombraz websiteSarah Swallow on InstagramRonnie Romance on InstagramGOSO CookwarePositive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Matt and Mattie Sims are the co-founders of Courier Socks, a performance sock brand built for the Renaissance athlete — the person who isn't limited to just one sport. In this episode, we get into how a snapped achilles and a $10 sock sparked a product thesis, how five co-founders from world-class brands assembled into something that felt inevitable, and what it really looks like to build a bootstrapped brand without quitting your day job, without outside funding, and with a toddler in the mix. Topics covered: Building with five co-founders — why more wasn't messier, it was essentialThe Renaissance athlete — Courier's positioning and who they're actually building forThe sock category opportunity — why performance socks have been left behind relative to footwearBootstrapped growth and marketing — what's worked, what hasn't, and the myth of the breakthrough momentLessons from Lululemon — what they carried out and what they left behindLinks:Get 15% off your Courier Socks order by using this link. Or use code KORE15 at checkoutCourier's websiteCourier on InstagramBDBC Public RelationsThe Running Event / Switchback tradeshowTiny Experiments - book by Anne-Laure Le Cunff For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Chris Schabow didn't plan to run a manufacturing company — he was a nonprofit fundraiser with a sewing machine from Goodwill and a side hustle making backpacking gear. A chance conversation revealed that Enlightened Equipment, the brand he'd been reverse-engineering for years, was operating out of a hole-in-the-wall shop in his own town. What followed was a cold letter, a ghosted coffee meeting, and a leap of faith that cost him his salary, his benefits, and almost his financial stability. Nine years later, he's CEO. This is the story of how you build your way to the top — one baffle at a time.Highlights from the episode How a nonprofit fundraiser with a $18 Goodwill sewing machine stumbled into a career at the brand he'd been reverse-engineering from the internetFrom leaf blowers in the attic to commercial stuffing machines: how Enlightened Equipment rebuilt its production floor around technology instead of headcountWhy going overseas was the only math that worked — and how the brand navigated the ultralight community's backlashThe "stuff on demand" shell model that saved the company during COVID and became the foundation of how they operate todayWhat it actually looks like to lead a team you once punched a clock alongside — and why starting at the bottom made Chris a better CEO than any outside hire could have beenLinks Enlightened EquipmentPrairie Dog ShovelsE Clean (down restoration service)Garage Grown GearRipstop by the RollThru-HikerBackpacking LightFor more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Jonathan Audet and his two co-founders set out to build better skis. What they built instead may change entire industries. In this episode, Jonathan shares the story behind Ferreol Skis — a Quebec-based brand combining sustainability, in-house engineering, and a fierce love of skiing into one of Canada's fastest-growing ski companies. We also dig into Ferreol Technologies and the aluminum alloy they developed that the industry is calling the strongest in the world. From backyard experiments to Canadian military contracts to the French market, this is a masterclass in founder obsession and engineering-driven brand building. A few of the topics covered in this episode: From backyard experiments to the largest Canadian ski brandBuilding a sustainability-first ski company without sacrificing performanceThe world's strongest aluminum — developed for skis, destined for spaceGrowing internationally: How to use government resources to enter new marketsHiring intrapreneurs and the founder's guide to staying coachableLinksFerreol SkisWatch Jonathan & his co-founders' appearance on Dragon's Den For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Dario Phillips, co-founder of Slowtide, built the surf industry's most recognizable beach towel brands by betting on a single product category and surrounding it with authentic art, meaningful collaborations, and a clear brand identity. In this conversation, Dario traces the full founder arc — from marketing director at Quiksilver to rolling the dice on 800 towels in a Venice Beach garage. He talks about the realities of licensing deals, co-founding remotely across two islands, and why a decade of building has taught him to trust his team's instincts over outside hires. He also shares how Slowtide is expanding beyond towels into outerwear and new product categories, while staying grounded in the values that started it all. A few of the topics from the conversation: Leaving Corporate Board Sports to Co-Found SlowtideThe Case for Category-Specific BrandsLicensing as a Growth StrategyCo-Founding Across Time Zones and IslandsFounder Confidence Over Outside HiresSustainable Growth and Giving BackLinks:SlowtideSlowtide's Custom ProductsSlowtide x New Balance Connect with Christian on LinkedIn The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast  The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

David Kenworthy (MMGY Origin) and Michael Ruckert (Centium AI) break down what outdoor industry founders and marketers need to know about AI visibility. Learn how AI models train on internet content, why there's often a gap between how brands see themselves and how AI describes them, and what AEO (AI Engine Optimization) means for your business. From understanding tokenization to exploring vibe coding opportunities for startups, this conversation delivers actionable insights on positioning your brand in the AI era. Episode Highlights How AI Models Train: Understanding tokenization, word associations, and how AI predicts brand recommendations by indexing internet content to form probability-based responsesThe Brand Perception Gap: Why there's often a disconnect between how outdoor brands market themselves and how AI actually describes them to consumersCentium AI Platform & AEO Strategy: What AI Engine Optimization means, how to measure brand visibility across multiple LLMs, and where AI sources content about your productsLinksCentium.aiMMGY OriginSuperhuman.ai Newlsetter Connect with David on LinkedIn Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Connect with Christian on LinkedIn For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Tina Thompson grew Seniq's Instagram following from 10K to 42K in just one year - including 14K new followers in 30 days. In this conversation, she breaks down the exact playbook that transformed Instagram from a content channel into a revenue generator. Tina shares how she reduced her time commitment from 20 hours to just 5 hours per week while accelerating growth, the specific content strategies that unlocked hockey stick growth during the launch of their ski apparel, and how she uses trial reels and AB testing to optimize performance. This is the tactical Instagram masterclass every outdoor brand founder needs. Show HighlightsThis episode is a deeper-dive into the tactics that Tina laid out in her Substack post about Seniq's Instagram strategy. Here are the main topics Tina lays out in her post that we dive into in this episode: Be yourselfMost strategy is uselessConsistency is everythingDon't reinvent the wheelFun is keyUnlock & RepeatPinning worksGiveaways are a mustShow the productLo-fi > Hi-resThe best launches have a formulaA/B testing reels drives quick resultsLinks Tina's SubstackSeniq on InstagramTina on InstagramMallory Ottariano / Youer on InstagramBehind The Diary YouTube channelTiny Experiments book The KORE Podcast is a production of the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise. Learn more about KORE and the podcast: https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Thor Tingey, CEO of Alpacka Raft, discusses what it takes to establish a new category in the outdoor industry and to build an independent, family-owned company. Twenty-five years after pioneering modern packrafting, Thor shares hard-won wisdom about balancing innovation with customer feedback, navigating explosive COVID-era growth, and why maintaining in-house production is critical to his long-term strategy. Thor explains how thoughtful, sustained growth and deep customer relationships define market leadership in the outdoor industry. Episode Highlights Domestic manufacturing philosophy: Why in-house USA production preserves critical manufacturing knowledge that offshore production erodes.Establishing a new sport: The unique challenges and responsibilities of pioneering packrafting as a recreational activity and building a market category from scratch over 25 years.Customer-driven success metrics: Defining business achievement through authentic superfan stories rather than revenue numbers—when customers evangelize your brand unprompted, you've wonInnovation vs. feedback balance: Weighing when to push design boundaries versus listening to what experienced customers actually need in the fieldMarket leadership responsibility: Grappling with the ethical dimensions of being the category creator—from social media restraint to thoughtful product positioningLinks:KORE OutdoorsAlpacka RaftsSheri - a documentary about Thor's mom who was Alpacka's original founder & CEOAbundance - book Thor mentions For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Sam Digiambattista was shopping for a ski jacket when he discovered that Gore-Tex—the gold standard in outdoor fabrics for 50 years—is made with PFAS, harmful forever chemicals. Rather than accepting the status quo, the then-teenager decided to do something about it. In the two years since, Sam has developed his own PFAS-free waterproof breathable fabric and launched Indersity, a technical outerwear brand committed to environmental responsibility without sacrificing performance. At just 19 years old, Sam demonstrates remarkable conviction and values-driven leadership that makes you believe sustainable innovation is possible in the outdoor industry. Topics Covered: Why this teenager rejected the fabric standardFrom zero knowledge to proprietary fabric in two yearsSpeed wins: Building a technical brand without waiting for permissionTaking on investors to capitalize on an opportunityGetting athletes on board earlyStaying hands-on while growingLinks:IndersityKORE podcast episode with Alex LauverKORE podcast episode with Casey Shaw For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Pete Day of Mosko Moto reveals what it takes to build a premium adventure motorcycle gear brand from the ground up. He explains why product quality is the foundation of everything, how they design for hardcore users who demand maximum utility, and the balance between innovation and accessibility.  Pete shares insights on maintaining premium status while staying within reach of working riders, building community through 50+ annual events and multi-day riding experiences, and growing his Instagram to 90K+ followers. The conversation ends with Pete's definition of success and why the interesting path beats the efficient one every time. A few topics from the episode: The product-first philosophy: "Nobody wants to be in your community if your product sucks"Designing for hardcore users: maximizing utility for riders who push gear to its limitsThe danger of detaching into an "ivory tower" of premium pricing and exotic materialsWhy Mosko attends 50+ events annually and hosts multi-day riding and camping experienGrowing a personal Instagram following to 90K+ while staying authentic to the sportLinksMosko MotoPete's Instagram @moskopeteKuiu Purple Cow by Seth GodinDusty Lizard campout For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Mike Blarowski, co-founder of Pinkbike and Shopify expert, joins the KORE Outdoors Podcast to unpack what he calls the Shopify Advantage—how outdoor brands can simplify e-commerce and build businesses that support their lifestyle. From early lessons at Pinkbike to helping founders optimize their online stores, Mike shares practical insights on using Shopify effectively, creating high-converting email flows, and adapting to the future of AI-driven search. This episode is a field guide for makers and entrepreneurs who want to grow online without losing their connection to the outdoors. What “the Shopify Advantage” means for outdoor brandsCommon e-commerce mistakes and how to fix themUsing email automation to convert visitors into loyal customersHow AI is changing SEO and online marketingThe best apps for your Shopify storeLearn more about KORE Links to what was mentioned on this episode:Iceberg Commerce (Mike's E-commerce Agency)Pixel Union ThemesGoogle PageSpeed InsightsGT MetrixSparkLayerKlaviyoCopy That copywriting courseCopy Posse Shopify Apps:Locksmith Judge.me GorgiasMyWorksBetterReportsKNO CommerceMatrixify Connect with Mike on LinkedInConnect with Christian on LinkedIn For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/ The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.