Summary:
On this episode of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, host James Bell sits down with Nicholas Olano, Co-Founder of American Hunt. Nicholas and his business partner founded American Hunt in 2019 to break down a significant barrier that outdoors people across the country deal with. Together, James and Nicholas discuss American Hunt, Bentonville, and Nicholas’s experience with GORP.
Thanks for tuning in!
Show Notes
(0:28) Introducing Nicholas Olano and His Journey to NWA
(6:04) American Hunt
(13:48) Participating in GORP
(20:15) Why YOU Should Care about NWA
(21:45) What’s Next for American Hunt?
(23:02) Superpowers and Closing Thoughts
Links:
JAMES BELL
NICHOLAS OLANO
AMERICAN HUNT
Quotes
“What keeps us [in Northwest Arkansas] is everything. This is hands down, the best place I’ve ever lived. We have four moderate seasons, so by the time you’re sick of one season, you have a new season rolling around.”
(3:57) – Nicholas Olano
“We’re not just a hunting platform. There’s ATV off-roading, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and we have an ‘other’ category. So if you think your land is suitable for any outdoor activity, you’re more than welcome to put in on American Hunt.”
(12:19) – Nicholas Olano
“It seems like every other incubator wants a piece of the pie, and [GORP] did not, which was really cool. And that also kind of goes to show Bentonville culture. This is an area where a lot of people just want to help people.”
(15:50) – Nicholas Olano
“There’s a lot of other places that might have an REI or something like that. But then where do you go? You have to drive two hours to get somewhere to use that stuff. In Northwest Arkansas, you drive 15 minutes east or west, and next thing you know, you’re in pristine wilderness. We have one of the cleanest rivers in the country. We have the first national river. We have float trips. We have mountain biking…we literally have everything here.”
(20:34) – Nicholas Olano
Why Bentonville’s Culture Is Right for Your Outdoor Recreation Business
On this episode of the Bentonville Beacon Podcast, host James Bell sits down with Nicholas Olano, Co-Founder of American Hunt. Nicholas and his business partner founded American Hunt in 2019 to break down a significant barrier that outdoors people across the country deal with. Together, James and Nicholas discuss American Hunt, Bentonville, and Nicholas’s experience with GORP.
American Hunt
While outdoor recreational activities can be fun for everyone, we know they don’t always have the easiest entry points. Hunting, fishing, and other popular outdoor activities require a lot of sport-specific gear, but that isn’t all. After you’ve obtained the necessary clothes and equipment, you’ll need licenses, permits, and a piece of land to enjoy your sport. Unfortunately, the land can be the most challenging piece of the puzzle to come by. You either own or lease a piece of property, or you use public land, which usually isn’t an ideal situation.Nicholas and his team at American Hunt have the solution you need—they’ve taken the Airbnb model and applied it to the outdoor recreation space. On their platform, you can choose from a list of private land and guiding services to rent by the day, making your yearly hunting trip a breeze!
“We’re not just a hunting platform. There’s ATV off-roading, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, and we have an ‘other’ category. So if you think your land is suitable for any outdoor activity, you’re more than welcome to put in on American Hunt.” (12:19) – Nicholas Olano
Despite the apparent integration into the hunting and fishing space, American Hunt also provides several other types of experiences. Search their site to find ATV off-roading, horseback riding, and several different ventures that otherwise wouldn’t be available to you!
Why Bentonville?
Nicholas moved to Northwest Arkansas in search of a new place to call home, and he wasn’t disappointed. He regularly sites the weather, culture, infrastructure, and plentiful outdoor activities as critical reasons he loves living here.
“What keeps us [in Northwest Arkansas] is everything. This is hands down, the best place I’ve ever lived. We have four moderate seasons, so by the time you’re sick of one season, you have a new season rolling around.” (3:57) – Nicholas Olano
Compared to larger outdoor recreation hubs in the Rockies and on the coasts, Nicholas loves how accessible the outdoors are in Northwest Arkansas. While larger hubs might have a more extensive collection of big-name outdoor outfitters, you have to travel hours to be able to use the products you buy. In Northwest Arkansas, you can buy your gear from locally-owned outdoor retailers and drive 15 minutes to the river, trailhead, or campgrounds.
“There’s a lot of other places that might have an REI or something like that. But then where do you go? You have to drive two hours to get somewhere to use that stuff. In Northwest Arkansas, you drive 15 minutes east or west, and next thing you know, you’re in pristine wilderness. We have one of the cleanest rivers in the country. We have the first national river. We have float trips. We have mountain biking…we literally have everything here.” (20:34) – Nicholas Olano
With the world-class wilderness surrounding the area and a unique culture that promotes and supports outdoor brands, Northwest Arkansas is the perfect place for outdoor recreation brands to call home.
Get Connected!
Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Bentonville Beacon podcast! Join us weekly for more stories from entrepreneurs and business leaders who are making a positive impact on Bentonville’s culture, community, and lifestyle. Don’t forget, Bentonville is a place where you can have more of what you want and less of what you don’t!
