Published: April 20, 2022 By

Mariana Cevallos, Founder of Alluvia PackraftMeet , Founder and CEO of , makers of lightweight, packable, inflatable boats suitable for outdoor sports enthusiasts.Ìý

Originally from Lima, Peru, Mariana moved to Colorado in 2015, where she instantly fell in love with the local nature and outdoor activities. When Mariana began packrafting with her husband Mike in 2019, she quickly noticed a lack of minority representation within the sport, inspiring her to make a difference. Soon after, Mariana and Mike started Alluvia Packraft; manufacturers with the purpose to donate three percent of profits to creating a more inclusive, diverse, and safe outdoor community!

Â鶹ÊÓƵ Alluvia Packraft

Mariana and Mike began Alluvia Packraft in 2019. Based in downtown Grand Junction, Colorado, Alluvia Packrafts are lightweight, packable, inflatable boats. These rafts can pack down to the size of a roll of paper towels and weigh less than eight pounds!Ìý

Alluvia Packraft on RiverCurrently, Alluvia Packraft has two raft options available on their :

  • The Dirty Devil is highly versatile and suitable for Class II waters.Ìý

  • The Gunny Gorge is slightly larger and more suitable for challenging whitewater rafting.

Alluvia Packrafts are limited. Be sure to purchase yours now, before it’s too late!

Keep up with Alluvia Packraft on , , and to be one of the first to see the new products.

Challenges Faced

Alluvia Packraft experienced major supply chain delays as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mariana reflects,

“Our manufacturer is overseas, and being unable to visit them is extremely difficult because you want to know who you’re working with. So, we had to become resourceful and conduct research on our own to find someone.â€

Demystifying Entrepreneurship Series

Cofounders Mariana & MikeIn the summer of 2021, Mariana attended StartUps to ScaleUps and Shore Up, part of the Deming Center’s Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshops! She comments on her experience,

“I knew the topics were going to be valuable for our company, so I signed up right away. It was extremely useful to take a step back and look at the business as a whole. In the StartUp to ScaleUp workshop, I realized we were missing many things that we needed in order to scale upâ€

She continued,

“In the Shore Up workshop, we learned a lot more in-depth about marketing, human resources, hiring processes, and operations.â€

Since attending Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshops, Alluvia Packrafts placed first in , and are preparing for the in May.Ìý

If you are considering starting a company or currently running a small business, register now for this summer’s Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshops! Check out the upcoming schedule:

Ìý| May 13 & 14 | Ignacio, CO

Ìý| July 22 & 23 | Sterling, CO

Ìý| September 30 & October 1 | Telluride, CO

Ìý|ÌýOctober 14 & 15 | Hayden, CO

Ìý

More Deming News

Sophie Schuler

Sophie Schuler's Journey in the Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Program in South Africa

Sophie Schuler’s journey into the Entrepreneurship and Empowerment in South Africa (EESA) program was more than just an opportunity to study abroad; it was a chance to dive deep into real-world challenges in a new culture. Growing up near Boulder, Colorado, Sophie’s path led her to CU Boulder, where she...

Creative Distillation Logo
Creative Distillation Episode 70 - Bryn Rees, Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation
Rob Mossman Skiing
Rob Mossman: Navigating Challenges, Pivoting Strategies, and Building Business Success
Creative Distillation Logo
Creative Distillation Episode 69 - Reversing the Arrow conference with Jennifer & Dev Jennings