Episode
Investing in Outdoor Founders with Andrew Luter of Rio Chato Investments
- Podcast
- KORE Outdoors Podcast
- Published
- Jun 11, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4146
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast
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Summary
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 move The REI/big-box order as a working-capital trap Underused funding: PO financing, revenue-based financing, CDFIs, friends and family Why coachability beats product and pitch The "danger zone": too big to be small, too small to be big Community-first brands as the next wave in outdoor Links Andrew's Substack Rio Chato Investments Heather Kelly's Substack Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn Connect 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