We’re always looking for bold builders — and sometimes the best way to find them is to open the doors wide.

That’s why we launched a pitch competition designed to surface early-stage founders building in the outdoor and wellness ecosystems. The initiative reflects something core to our DNA: innovation doesn’t only happen in predictable places. Often, the most promising ideas come from founders who are quietly solving real problems in overlooked corners of the market.

The competition created an opportunity for entrepreneurs to share their vision, gain exposure, and connect directly with our team. More importantly, it created space for meaningful conversations. Whether or not a company ultimately becomes part of our portfolio, we believe founders deserve thoughtful feedback and authentic engagement.

At Wildwood, we operate as both investors and company builders. That dual perspective shapes how we evaluate opportunities. We look beyond the surface metrics and ask deeper questions: Is this solving a meaningful human problem? Is the founder uniquely positioned to win? Can this grow into something enduring?

The pitch competition was one expression of that philosophy — proactive, open, and founder-centric.
We’re proud of the energy it generated and the caliber of entrepreneurs who stepped forward. It reinforced our belief that the outdoor and wellness economy is still early — and still full of untapped potential.

You can read more about the launch here.