Boat Planet, the online marketplace that connects boaters with trusted marine businesses, was recently announced as one of seven companies around the globe to be chosen for Tech Wildcatters’ Fall 2019 Cohort in Dallas, Texas. For the next 12 weeks, Boat Planet will be provided with expert knowledge, meaningful connections, and mentorship through Tech Wildcatters’ Training Camp program.

“The core values of Tech Wildcatters aligned well with our core values,” said Michael Kiel, co-Founder of Boat Planet, in a press release. “I have a solid family foundation in Dallas and it’s important to have support as an entrepreneur. I can also tell after just one week that the TW team will become part of that support system.”

Tech Wildcatters recently overhauled their Training Camp program to a go-at-your-own-pace, level up system, that rewards hard work and perseverance. Each of the seven startups that were invited to Tech Wildcatters’ Fall 2019 cohort has the opportunity to receive up to $130K in funding as they progress through the program.

“We’re thrilled to be one of seven companies selected from a pool of close to 500 startups that applied. It’s crazy to think that this idea stemmed from a Facebook group I created a couple of years ago for boaters at Lake of the Ozarks,” said Kiel. “Now we’re one step closer to our mission of connecting a nationwide community of boaters to local marine professionals who provide exceptional service.”

About Boat Planet

Boat Planet connects marine businesses with the largest community of boaters, anywhere. Boaters can easily search for the service they need and find top-rated marine businesses in their area. Marine businesses can leverage the platform to showcase their work, build trust with potential customers, and maximize their exposure when boaters are actively searching for the products and services they offer.

Talking of core values, Kiel recently penned a guest post on the St. Louis Business Journal, on Why Entrepreneurs Are Setting Up Shop in St. Louis, where he expressed strong support for the St. Louis Startup Ecosystem.

“I started my first business in Los Angeles during the Great Recession, grinding it out every day in a city where I had no family and few friends. I eventually made it back to St. Louis, where I set up shop in my parents’ warehouse. This strong support system allowed my company to survive its first year while I quickly and easily connected with prospects.

Over time, this supportive Midwestern atmosphere has seeped into my own business philosophy. At Boat Planet, one of our core values is to give first. Instead of setting out to make money, we wanted to solve a problem we saw in the boating industry while delivering as much value as possible. It might lack the ocean view, but St. Louis truly is startup heaven for hundreds of talented and ambitious entrepreneurs.”