UW Foster Outdoor Sports & Industry Club Panel: Building & Growing a Brand
What does it take to turn a great product into a brand people trust on the trail, on the water, and everywhere in between? Join the Outdoor Sports & Industry Club for an evening with two Seattle founders who have built and scaled outdoor brands from the ground up.
Meet the panel
Aaron Ambuske, Founder & CEO of HEST, and a Foster MBA alum. HEST makes “Home Comfort Built for the Outdoors,” including memory foam camping mattresses, sleeping pads, pillows, and camp furniture, so adventurers can sleep well under the stars.
Travis Merrigan, Co-Founder & Product VP of GRAYL. GRAYL’s mission is to “Purify Water. Anywhere.” Its water purifier bottles let travelers and outdoor enthusiasts drink safely from almost any source in seconds.
What we’ll cover
Starting an outdoor brand: finding the problem worth solving and the first customers who care
Growing from niche product to category leader without losing authenticity
Building community, partnerships, and loyalty in the outdoor space
Leading through growth: culture and hard decisions as a company scales
Career paths and advice for MBAs who want to work in or build outdoor and sports businesses
Who should come
Foster MBA students and anyone in the UW community who’s interested in the outdoor and sports industry, consumer brands, or entrepreneurship. Whether you spend weekends in the mountains or just want to learn how great brands get built, this panel is for you.
Details
Thursday, November 5 | 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Deloitte Commons, 2nd Floor, PACCAR Hall, University of Washington
Bring your questions, because we’ll leave plenty of time for Q&A. Afterward, stay to network with the panelists and fellow attendees over refreshments and light snacks. Space is limited, so please register below.