Between wild animals and the weather, outdoor enthusiasts have a lot to keep on their minds — and their packs. Also of concern is water and the equipment needed to carry it throughout a hike or other extended adventure.
New Mexico State University alum Steven Alderete set out to find a new solution.
Alderete's company, called Trail-9 Outdoors, offers a device that helps to dry out water bladders, waterproofs bags with an opening for consumption. Last week, NMSU announced that its Arrowhead Innovation Fund invested an undisclosed amount of money into the startup.
“There are many approaches to keeping the water bladder clean but they can be time-consuming and don’t guarantee an optimal outcome. The H2OBO system has the potential to become the go-to brand for hydration systems,” fund manager Beto Pallares said in a statement.
So far, Trail-9 has developed a prototype and is gearing up for a production run. Alderete previously participated in the college's Aggie Shark Tank pitch event, where he offered up the dryer system to investors.
“AIF has been incredibly supportive to me on getting ready for the launch of the H2OBO system. We were issued a patent and are ready to put the product in the hands of our first clients,” Alderete said in a statement.
The Arrowhead Innovation Fund focuses on financing seed rounds with investments worth between $25,000 and $200,000 and has slowly amassed a portfolio of New Mexico companies since its launch. Its first investment, unveiled in 2018, went to a Las Cruces company building environmentally friendly heating technology called EVUS, Business First reported.
The Arrowhead Innovation Fund began a total of $2 million at its disposal, according to NMSU.
Other companies in the AIF's portfolio include TNeuroPharma, an Albuquerque company developing a blood test for Alzheimer's disease, and "death tech" company Parting Stone in Santa Fe.
