Unlikely Riders
Unlikely Riders is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that reduces barriers for BIPOC and QTBIPOC individuals to participate in mountain sports through gear distribution, BIPOC-led instruction, and community events. Founded in 2020, it operates across 8 Vermont venues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersVermont, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Unlikely Riders does
Unlikely Riders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2020 and headquartered at One Main Street, Suite 204, Burlington, Vermont. The organization creates joyful and inclusive spaces for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as QTBIPOC (LGBTQ+ BIPOC) individuals, in mountain sports including skiing, snowboarding, backcountry exploration, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Its mission is to break down financial, cultural, and social barriers that prevent BIPOC individuals from participating in mountain sports, addressing the isolation of being 'the only one on the mountain' through community-centered programming rather than mere access provision.
The organization operates three interconnected core programs: (1) the Winter Gear Closet, a grassroots distribution program providing skis, snowboards, boots, outerwear, and backcountry equipment to BIPOC community members, with hubs in southern and northern Vermont; (2) Community Ski+Ride Days and Events, including monthly on-mountain gatherings, bi-weekly Friday night ski meet-ups, sunrise uphill meet-ups, mountain bike group rides, BIPOC LGBTQ+ events, and skillshare sessions; and (3) Instruction and Education, which trains BIPOC community leaders in wilderness medicine, avalanche education, and ski/snowboard instructor certifications, producing a pipeline of qualified BIPOC instructors and mentors. Programs are delivered at 8 different ski areas, cross-country centers, backcountry zones, and bike parks across Vermont.
Unlikely Riders runs on a donation-based revenue model typical of community non-profits, supplemented by sliding-scale event tickets priced from $12 to $120 to ensure accessibility across economic backgrounds. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a Squarespace website, an Instagram presence (@unlikelyriders), an email newsletter, and Google Forms for community sign-ups. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by word-of-mouth, social media, partnerships with aligned organizations, and informal mentorship networks. No headcount, revenue figures, or institutional funding rounds are publicly disclosed.
Unlikely Riders firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unlikely Riders
- Legal name
- Unlikely Riders
- Website
- https://unlikelyriders.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Unlikely Riders is a Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit that reduces barriers for BIPOC and QTBIPOC individuals to participate in mountain sports through gear distribution, BIPOC-led instruction, and community events. Founded in 2020, it operates across 8 Vermont venues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unlikely Riders industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Recreation Community Services
- NAICS
- Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG), Cycling, Mountain Biking & E-bike Adventures (THAJABAF), Guided Backcountry & Off-Piste Services (Ski Touring, Splitboarding, Heli/Cat Skiing) (THAAAJAD)
Keywords
Where Unlikely Riders is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vermont
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Unlikely Riders business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, primary revenue comes from individual donations that support the Winter Gear Closet, community instruction, educational opportunities, and community events.
- Sliding Scale Event Tickets: Community events are offered on a sliding scale pricing model, with tickets ranging from $12 to $120, making programming accessible to participants across economic backgrounds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Sliding scale event tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Unlikely Riders product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unlikely Riders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that breaks down barriers for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals to participate in mountain sports. The organization operates three interconnected programs: the Winter Gear Closet (distributing skis, snowboards, boots, outerwear, and backcountry equipment), Community Ski+Ride Days and Events (organized gatherings and meet-ups), and Instruction/Education (training BIPOC community leaders in wilderness medicine, avalanche education, and ski/snowboard instruction).
Product overview
Unlikely Riders operates as a unified non-profit offering centered on three interconnected community programs: The Winter Gear Closet (flagship gear distribution), Community Ski+Ride Days and Events (gatherings and meet-ups), and Instruction/Education (training certified BIPOC instructors and guides). These programs work together to reduce financial and social barriers to mountain sports participation while building an inclusive BIPOC and QTBIPOC community in Vermont.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Winter Gear Closet A grassroots gear distribution program that provides skis, snowboards, cross-country gear, backcountry gear, boots, base layers, mid layers, outer layers, and other equipment to BIPOC community members to reduce barriers to snowsports participation.
- Community Ski+Ride Days and Events Organized community gatherings including monthly on-mountain ski+ride days, bi-weekly Friday night skiing under the lights, sunrise uphill meet-ups, zoom gatherings and skillshares, mountain bike group rides, community gear nights, and BIPOC LGBTQ ski+ride events. Events are offered on a sliding scale ($12 to $120) to ensure accessibility across economic backgrounds.
- Community Instruction and Education Training programs for BIPOC community leaders covering ski, snowboard, backcountry, uphill, and cross-country instruction, as well as certifications in wilderness medicine, avalanche education, and ski/snowboard instructor training. Trained instructors then lead events and provide mentorship within their communities at 8 different ski areas and outdoor locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3375 pieces of winter gear distributed to BIPOC community members
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Unlikely Riders
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Unlikely Riders technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Unlikely Riders partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Unlikely Riders competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Outdoor Afro: National nonprofit celebrating and inspiring Black connections in nature through outdoor recreation. Directly comparable as a BIPOC-centered outdoor community organization running programs across multiple states, sharing Unlikely Riders' mission of removing barriers to outdoor participation.
- Brown Girls Climb: Nonprofit creating equitable access to climbing for women and people of color. Directly comparable as a BIPOC-centered outdoor recreation nonprofit providing instruction, community events, and gear access — Unlikely Riders' model translated to the climbing sub-discipline.
- Latino Outdoors: National nonprofit connecting Latino communities to outdoor experiences and public lands. Comparable as an identity-centered outdoor community organization with multi-state programming, community events, and instructor/leadership training.
- National Brotherhood of Skiers: Black ski club federation founded in 1973 with 60+ member clubs focused on increasing Black participation in snowsports. Comparable as a BIPOC-focused snowsports community organization running events, instruction, and gatherings — direct analog to Unlikely Riders at greater scale.
- GirlTrek: National nonprofit mobilizing Black women and girls to walk for health and healing. Comparable as a BIPOC-centered community organization using outdoor activity as a vehicle for cultural connection and barrier removal, with similar grassroots, donor-funded model.
- Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports: Vermont-based nonprofit providing adaptive sports instruction and equipment for people with disabilities. Highly comparable as a Vermont nonprofit offering instruction, gear, and events across multiple ski areas — directly overlapping geography and operational model, though serving people with disabilities rather than BIPOC community.
Broad incumbents
- Ski for Light: Adaptive ski program providing cross-country and alpine instruction for people with disabilities. Comparable as a community-driven organization breaking down barriers to mountain sports participation through instruction and gear, though focused on disability rather than BIPOC identity.
- The Mountaineers: Pacific Northwest-based outdoor recreation club offering instruction, outings, and community programming across hiking, climbing, and snowsports. Comparable as a membership-based outdoor recreation organization running volunteer-led instruction and community events, though broader in mission and geography.
Others
- Mountainsmith: Outdoor gear brand and a potential gear-supply partner relevant to Unlikely Riders' Winter Gear Closet program. Not a direct peer but ecosystem participant as an outdoor equipment provider whose products Unlikely Riders distributes.
Regional players
- Protect Our Winters: Climate advocacy nonprofit mobilizing the winter sports community. Adjacent peer relevant to Unlikely Riders due to climate change exposure of snowsports programming; operates nationally and represents a potential partnership opportunity rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Unlikely Riders social profiles
Digital presenceUnlikely Riders financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unlikely Riders leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Unlikely Riders funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unlikely Riders M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Unlikely Riders
What does Unlikely Riders do?
Unlikely Riders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that breaks down barriers for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals to participate in mountain sports. The organization operates three interconnected programs: the Winter Gear Closet (distributing skis, snowboards, boots, outerwear, and backcountry equipment), Community Ski+Ride Days and Events (organized gatherings and meet-ups), and Instruction/Education (training BIPOC community leaders in wilderness medicine, avalanche education, and ski/snowboard instruction).
Is Unlikely Riders a public or private company?
Unlikely Riders is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Unlikely Riders founded?
Unlikely Riders was founded in 2020.
Where is Unlikely Riders based?
Unlikely Riders is headquartered in Vermont, United States, in the North America region.
How does Unlikely Riders make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are sliding Scale Event Tickets.
Who are Unlikely Riders's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Outdoor Afro, Brown Girls Climb, Latino Outdoors, National Brotherhood of Skiers, GirlTrek and Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. Broad incumbents are Ski for Light and The Mountaineers. Mountainsmith is listed as an others. Protect Our Winters is listed as a regional player.
Does Unlikely Riders have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unlikely Riders.
What industry is Unlikely Riders in?
Unlikely Riders's product category is Outdoor Recreation Community Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKADAM, Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers, with a secondary code of THAAAOAG, Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs. Its NAICS code is 71394 and its SIC code is 7997.