Annie and Ryan Price take the stage at the Oct. 18 Bend Outdoor Worx pitch event for outdoor businesses. The pitch is the result of nearly a year's worth of mentoring for a cohort of outdoor businesses. 

Broke Supply Co., a Bend horse accessory business, was the winner of the 2023 Bend Outdoor Worx breakout pitch event for outdoor companies.

The business earned $10,000 cash award during the event Oct. 18 at Open Space Studio. Owned by Annie Ryan Price, Broke Supply Co. competed with MODL Outdoors, an outdoor hydration company, and Packasport, a businesses that was started in Bend that developed rooftop cargo carriers for cars.

Bend accelerator program helps fledgling businesses grow

Bend accelerator program helps fledgling businesses grow

Bend Outdoor Worx is a mentorship program for outdoor businesses and selects a handful of outdoor businesses for a 14-week program and four monthly sessions that culminates with the pitch event.

Recipients get more than 300 hours of mentorship from outdoor businesses, accounting and legal consulting, e-commerce coaching, branding, access to investors and ongoing mentorship, according to Bend Outdoor Worx website.

The program was started by the founder of Bruno Mountain Advisory LLC Justin Rae, Ruffwear founder Will Blount, founding partner of Tokyo Startfish Gary Bracelin and former CEO of Entre Prises) USA Inc. Eric Meade.

MODL, Broke Supply Company, and Packasport pitch at Bend Outdoor Worx event

MODL, Broke Supply Company, and Packasport pitch at Bend Outdoor Worx event

“We changed things up this year,” Bracelin said. “We’re doing the pitch event as more of a platform for our graduating companies. It’s the culminating event of the mentorship program.”

Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 31 for the 2024 cohort. Applications can be obtained by going to bendoutdoorworx.com and clicking on apply now. The new cohort will begin in February, Bracelin said.