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Special guests Susan Vison, VP and executive director of REI’s Path Ahead Ventures, and Ed Chang, co-founder of Varlo, join Robin and Shelley to discuss how big companies can help elevate and support underrepresented BIPOC brand owners.

An estimated one percent of founders in the outdoor industry identifies as a person of color, despite over 30 percent of outdoor participants identifying as such. REI is addressing that gap with its Path Ahead Ventures launched in 2021 to focus on providing support and solidarity to outdoor businesses that are BIPOC owned and led.

REI is making a difference as a leader in supporting outdoor businesses that are owned by Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs. 

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