Editor’s observe: This report first appeared at BusinessDen, a BizWest information associate
FORT COLLINS — A Fort Collins-area startup is combining cognitive behavioral principle and out of doors actions.
Chimney Path CO, which sends subscribers quarterly out of doors exercise kits, goals to function a type of preventative psychological well being care.
Co-founder and CEO Matthew Brown, a former captain within the U.S. Navy, mentioned he wished to deal with psychological well being challenges after he misplaced an officer to suicide.
“I went to the hospital, and his dad saved mentioning this out of doors exercise that we did as a staff,” Brown mentioned. “He grabbed me by the shoulder and mentioned, ‘Why didn’t I do these lovely issues with my son?’”
Brown, a Colorado native, was within the Navy from 2005 to 2018. He co-founded Chimney Path CO along with his cousin, Brad Markey.
“We independently found how extreme the issue was and determined, why don’t we do one thing about it,” mentioned Brown, 40.
Brown and Markey launched the corporate in 2022 after assembly with researchers and consultants from John Hopkins College and Brown College, in addition to help companies for navy households, to kind a staff of scientific advisors.
Inside every package is out of doors gear and a booklet that features step-by-step directions whereas additionally explaining cognitive habits principle and the way the exercise might help one overcome anxiousness or melancholy.
“There are 10 cognitive distortions that result in anxiousness and melancholy, and what we’ve carried out is taken out of doors actions to show folks every 10 cognitive distortions,” Brown mentioned.
To this point, there are 40 kits, starting from straightforward to knowledgeable actions together with fireplace constructing, figuring out bug life, constructing a shelter and making a time capsule. The time capsule package, for instance, consists of waterproof pocket book paper, a foldable shovel, an area pen and the chrome steel time capsule container.
“The purpose of the package is you don’t want to attend till you’re having points to do it; actually it’s a lot simpler to be launched to cognitive remedy earlier than you want it,” Brown mentioned.
He mentioned the gear inside kits is focused for adults, however every booklet supplies ideas on how and when to interact youngsters within the exercise.
“Analysis suggests in the event you can create a neighborhood out of this, outcomes will probably be higher,” Brown mentioned. “However that’s to not dissuade any person who may not have that neighborhood proper now.”
An annual subscription is $348, whereas shopping for a person package averages about $96, various by exercise.
Chimney Path has three full-time staff. It has raised roughly $300,000 from buyers, together with $190,000 final month, based on SEC filings. Brown mentioned the cash will go towards advertising and future growth.
Chimney Path has about 200 subscribers and has mailed roughly 1,500 kits since opening. Brown mentioned the corporate is in contract negotiations with the U.S. Marine Corps and the Protection Suicide Prevention Workplace, in addition to college programs and nonprofits.
Afterward, Brown mentioned, the corporate will give attention to particular person client advertising.
“The way in which that we’re positioning the curriculum is that it’s simply plain enjoyable,” Brown mentioned. “Not all people is doing these outdoorsy issues, however it’s an essential a part of private enrichment.”
