# Path Ahead Ventures

> Path Ahead Ventures is a VC fund in Sumner backing Fashion, Retail and Apparel. See 19 investments, check sizes, portfolio. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Sumner, United States
- Total investments: 19
- Last investment: Sep 2024
- Lead investor: 37%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei
- Website: https://www.rei.com/path-ahead

Path Ahead Ventures is a new initiative by REI Co-op that invests in founders of color to start and scale businesses in the outdoor industry. REI Co-op's Path Ahead Ventures offers full-spectrum support to Black, Indigenous, Latinx and AAPI-owned and -led startups

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fashion | 8 | 42% |
| Retail | 5 | 26% |
| Apparel | 5 | 26% |
| E-Commerce | 5 | 26% |
| Manufacturing | 3 | 16% |

24 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grant | 12 | 63% |
| Seed | 4 | 21% |
| Pre-Seed | 1 | 5% |
| Series B | 1 | 5% |

### Country

| Country | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | 15 | 79% |
| Canada | 1 | 5% |
| Sweden | 1 | 5% |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Spicewell | Spicewell develops and creates food seasoning products that includes various kinds of micronutrients. It uses modern science to infuse healthy and organic additions to food meals. Spicewell is based in California, USA. | $1M | Seed | Sep 26, 2024 |  |
| Spicewell | Spicewell develops and creates food seasoning products that includes various kinds of micronutrients. It uses modern science to infuse healthy and organic additions to food meals. Spicewell is based in California, USA. | $1M | Seed | Sep 26, 2024 |  |
| OROS Labs | OROS Labs is a material technology company provides thermal solutions. | $22M | Series B | Apr 03, 2024 |  |
| Varlo | Varlo is a multi-sport and cycling-focused athletic gear business established in the United States. |  | Seed | Jan 03, 2024 |  |
| Varlo | Varlo is a multi-sport and cycling-focused athletic gear business established in the United States. | $25K | Grant | Jun 01, 2023 |  |
| WhitePaws RunMitts | WhitePaws RunMitts is a company that makes patented, convertible, thumbless mittens for runners, walkers, and outdoor sports lovers. The mittens are designed to adapt changing temperatures because they may be worn all the way up, flipped down to cool off, or pushed down the arm to entirely cool off. | $25K | Grant | Jun 01, 2023 |  |
| ToughCutie | Tough Cutie produces high-quality women's merino wool hiking socks that are better fitting, more supportive and more durable, allowing active women to trek for longer periods of time while avoiding blisters. | $25K | Grant | Jun 01, 2023 |  |
| SEPTEMBER | September is a female-owned, environmentally conscious swim and sportswear brand that empowers women to live their best adventures. SEPTEMBER suits are built for comfort and durability both in and out of the water. | $25K | Grant | Jun 01, 2023 |  |
| COBA | COBA is a sweet and effective energy bar that keeps you energized and alert throughout the day. This functional snack is made from premium coffee and tea ingredients and is meant to deliver prolonged energy and focus, making it a wonderful alternative to standard energy drinks or supplements. | $25K | Grant | Jun 01, 2023 |  |
| Hootie Hoo | Hootie Hoo is a premium functionality-driven children's brand that encourages & motivates children to build inner qualities and a love of nature. | $25K | Grant | Jun 01, 2023 |  |

10 of 19 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [R/GA Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/r-ga-ventures) — VC Fund, 12 deals together
- [Crumpton Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/crumpton-ventures) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Entrepreneur Ventures](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/entrepreneur-ventures) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Joyance Partners](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/joyance-partners) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Union Heritage Capital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/union-heritage-capital) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [500 Global](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/500-startups) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

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## Featured in investor lists
- [Fashion Investors in Canada](https://shizune.co/investors/fashion-investors-canada)
- [Fashion VC Funds in Canada](https://shizune.co/investors/fashion-vc-funds-canada)

## FAQ

### What does Path Ahead Ventures invest in?

Path Ahead Ventures invests primarily in Fashion, Retail and Apparel startups, most often at Grant and Seed stage. Most of the 19 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### When did Path Ahead Ventures last invest?

The most recent investment recorded for Path Ahead Ventures closed in Sep 2024. Shizune tracks 19 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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