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West Virginia Hive Hosting August 6 Coffee Talks Session in Lewisburg
The West Virginia Hive is teaming up with Ascend WV Greenbrier Valley to host its next Coffee Talks networking session.
Photos of Peyton Ballard; Brandon Fitzwater; and Max Gottlieb of Bluebirding are courtesy of WV Hive
Beckley, W.Va. (November 2, 2023) – Leaders of Bluebirding, a West Virginia Hive outdoor industry client and new private land leasing technology company, announced the launch of their innovative mobile application designed to empower private landowners to monetize their properties for outdoor recreation. The company will work with private landowners, campgrounds, RV parks, and tourism-focused entities to build out an inventory of properties for those seeking their next adventure.
The app was founded and developed by Brandon Fitzwater, a native of Bridgewater, Va., with a vision for providing a gateway to the outdoors that would excite and revolutionize the outdoor shared economy. In late 2021, Peyton Ballard, CEO of Ballard Consulting Group, a Nicholas County company, and Max Gottlieb, an attorney based out of Kanawha County, joined Fitzwater as partners to commercialize this technology for the growing outdoor recreation sector.
“Our platform provides an opportunity for landowners to monetize their properties for outdoor recreationalists in hunting, fishing, camping, birding, and other activities,” said Ballard. “Bluebirding differs from other short-term rentals in a number of ways. For instance, Bluebirding focuses on private landowners’ ability to target activities. Hosts list their properties according to the activities for which the property can support — such as hunting, camping, fishing, birding, and hiking.”
Ballard said the mobile application allows users to book experiences from their phones and on-the-go.
Bluebirding will seek a round of seed funding in early 2024 as the company begins to scale to meet the growing demand of landowners and recreationalists utilizing their mobile application.
Mary Legg, senior business advisor at the West Virginia Hive who is working with Bluebirding leaders, said, “We see great potential for this new app. There is a heightened interest in the outdoor economy, and the number visiting national and state parks in the Mountain State and Appalachia is at an all-time high.”
The startup is also guided by two West Virginia native board members with impressive business careers — Chris Vaught, Founder and CEO of Vaught Inc., and Scott Widmeyer, Founding Managing Partner of Finn Partners.
The West Virginia Hive is teaming up with Ascend WV Greenbrier Valley to host its next Coffee Talks networking session.
The West Virginia Hive is conducting a community conversation on inclusive capital access from 1-2:30 p.m. June 25, at The Loft, 1123 Mercer Street in Princeton, W.Va. The event is free to those who register.
The West Virginia Hive Network is hosting its 2nd Annual Network and Resource Fair, set for Thursday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historic Black Knight Conference Center, 2400 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, W.Va.
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