Joseph Neumeyer

Greenwood Village, United States ·

Member since Nov 2021

Investments & reservations 1

Alpine-X

Invest in indoor snowsports resorts throughout North...

Republic Funding Portal · Reg CF

Joseph invested $2,000

A few reasons Alpine-X is an appealing investment. Alpine-X is investing in a sport that currently is only available to a limited number of consumers. Customers must travel to a resort, purchase or rent equipment, and deal with lodging expenses. The model provides something similar to a rock gym, in that an otherwise inaccessible outdoor activity can come into an urban environment where customers are aplenty. That said, and unlike a rock gym, indoor skiing is expensive to provide and requires climate control. So, if you are comfortable with the concept, let's jump into some specific considerations. First, the team in place is experienced in hospitality and many of the investors are located in the region. Hospitality is capital-intensive and requires navigating building codes and labor laws, in addition to the typical hurdles faced by new ventures. Therefore, experience and connections matter. Alpine-X has both of these and inspires confidence in it's ability to deliver on their promise. Second, the location of the site is convenient and accessible. Proximity to customers is a major competitive advantage for indoor skiing. Third, Alpine-X is building on the design of experiences and facilities which already exist abroad (Denmark, Dubai, etc). Therefore they won't have to reinvent the wheel, only bring to market (and improve on) existing models. Fourth, Alpine-X is the first to market in the USA. This might create some buzz and assist in marketing, but it also ensures that future facilities will face an established competitor. Considerations, Concerns, Suggestions: Alpine-X faces an "uphill" battle because it is the first to establish this as a "sport" or recreation activity in the US. Alpine-X must also avoid becoming a novelty item, that customers visit only once or twice. Developing loyal users- or even keeping the sport interesting- may require creativity. For example, partnering with existing resorts to host ski-schools, working with school districts for continued business, or tapping into a greying market of recreational skiers who can't make commutes to ski resorts. The question becomes, who is the customer? Is Alpine-X trying to become "hip" or an alternative to the skate-park, and then run the risk of being a passing fad. Is Alpine-X doomed to become a birthday/events and retreat center, like the average ropes course. Or, and this is a real possibility, could it become the next "rock-gym" and tap into a diverse market of casual adventures and skiing enthusiasts. My humble opinion is that this last option is most likely and would allow Alpine-X to provide service for pro skiers and a fun, occasional thrill for hobbyists. I could see Alpine-X becoming a place where hardcore, competitive skiers can improve at the highest level during the week (like a rock gym) alongside recreational skiers and families. Creating a program that allows advanced/expert skiers to improve their technical skills close to home- and tools for them to improv, would provide a deep, loyal customer base without alienating families. In fact, having serious pros at the facility would tie Alpine-X in with the existing community and help spread the word. A combination of high-tech feedback equipment, cameras, rehab space, and pro-shops could make Alpine-X a "go-to" for seasoned pros. This would also allow Alpine-X a few obvious expansion points (outlets in Park City, Vail, etc) Additional space for F&B and hotel stay, as well as some delineation for newbies would easily allow the pros the space they need- while keeping them close by (potentially giving some pros an audience for tricks). In short: From an investor perspective, this is a chance to involve myself in a very small way in a business that has lots of room to develop, under a leadership team I respect. There are clear routes to success-- and very obvious financial pitfalls, so the project is engaging for an armchair investor. I hope the team remains agile and attune to the different routes that are available to them. I have confidence thus far in their experience, attentiveness, and dedication--- and sense that management is responsible and creative enough to pull this off responsibly. I am excited to see how this develops! over 3 years ago

Following

Joseph doesn't follow anyone.

Joseph Neumeyer

Alpine-X

Following

Followers