The Wilcraft Receives Investment Offer From Bode Miller

President and Inventor of The Wilcraft, Tom Roering, Receives $400,000 Offer from Olympian Bode Miller on Tuesday’s Episode of Adventure Capitalists on CNBC

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North Saint Paul, MN: The Wilcraft, the amphibious ice fishing vehicle company that has been headquartered in North Saint Paul for the last 11 years, has received an offer of $400,000 from Olympian Bode Miller on the episode of Adventure Capitalists that aired last night on CNBC at 10pm. Miller’s offer was $400,000 for 20% equity in the company. Miller also requested a board seat along with preferred share voting rights, which would ultimately give him control of the company. Miller’s offer values The Wilcraft at $2 million.

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“It was a great honor to have been selected to participate on Adventure Capitalist; it was an incredible experience to have worked with such talented professionals. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome,” said Tom Roering, President, The Wilcraft.

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Adventure Capitalists is designed to give entrepreneurs the chance to showcase their products in the environment it was designed for, which in The Wilcraft’s case is the ice. Roering traveled with two Wilcrafts to Banff, Canada during the first week of April. Investors Jeremy Bloom, Shawn Johnson East, Dhani Jones, and Bode Miller tested out The Wilcraft before beginning the negotiations. Both Jones and Miller gave offers, with Roering verbally accepting Miller's on the show. The producers were so impressed with the vehicle that they used it to help film a segment of the show featuring another product.

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Miller is considered the most successful male American alpine ski racer of all time. He is known for having won six Olympic medals and 33 individual FIS world cup races in all 5 disciplines. He has been involved in several different companies, most notably Aztech Mountain, a performance sportswear company with its roots in skiing. Miller became a partner of Aztech Mountain in September 2016. “Bodie was a great fit for our company, his knowledge and understanding of the ice fishing culture was very evident. His laid back personality mirrors ours; he is someone we will certainly enjoy working with,” said Roering of his possible new partner.

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Tom Roering began working on The Wilcraft in 1998 out of the desire to ice fish more conveniently and to be safe. The driving factor was to be able to take his kids fishing without worry, as well as a grandfather who no longer had the physical ability to ice fish by traditional means. To this day, helping people get onto the ice and enjoy the outdoors is still the primary driving factor. By the end of 2004, he was able to introduce the design; it was well received. Manufacturing began in 2005 with the first unit delivered in January of 2006. Roering is optimistic about The Wilcraft’s future, “After experiencing double digit growth over each of the last couple years, and the weather conditions playing into our hands and now this year with our possible relationship with Bodie, we are about to experience some explosive growth.”