Bozeman, Montana is growing. According to recent government data, Bozeman is the largest city in the fastest-growing county in the state, Gallatin County. In 2018, Bozeman was named the fastest growing city of its size (Population: 49,000 and growing).
But why is Bozeman such a sought-after haven for so many these days?
Among the many reasons people are relocating to Bozeman, the great outdoors certainly must be one of the biggest selling points the little Montana city has in its favor. Gear shops for every outdoor activity imaginable line Main Street, and everyone walking outside either look as if they are about to go for a hike or just retired from a long day in the mountains. Beyond the great outdoor adventure that awaits those that move to Bozeman, the growing city has also seen an influx of major technology companies laying down roots and calling Bozeman home over the last several years.
The newest company to make the leap to the less-than-sleepy Montana town is a buy now, pay later financial tech company [PM1] called Credova. Bozeman has yet to see a company more perfectly aligned with its adventurous lifestyle. The tag line for the financing platform relocating from Reno, Nevada, is Think Adventure. It just doesn’t get much more Bozeman than that.
Credova Moves North to Adventure Country
Credova follows in the footsteps of major tech companies like Snowflake, the multi-billion-dollar cloud-based data company. Snowflake also recently announced its relocation from California to its new home under the big Montana sky.
Credova officially unveiled its relocation plans early last summer. Their headquarters are located in downtown Bozeman and should complete construction and be move-in ready early next year.
Credova offers a renowned point of sale credit financing platform created in 2018. The growing financing platform features an alternative method of payment called buy now, pay later, or BNPL, for those familiar with this new method of financing. Credova’s BNPL financing technology focuses mainly on integrating with retailers in the outdoor sporting and recreational industries.
The company has its origins in Nevada and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It is no surprise that Credova has seamlessly linked outdoor sporting adventures to its increasingly trendy mode of financing. By moving its corporate offices to Montana, Credova hopes to maintain its history and gain even more of a market stronghold on all things great outdoors.
Credova CEO Dusty Wunderlich Is Montana-ready
Credova CEO, Dusty Wunderlich, believes Montana is an ideal home for the adventure financing company. Wunderlich noted that Credova sought to relocate its corporate offices to a place that reflected the financing platform’s beliefs and enabled him to maintain an adventurous lifestyle. “Bozeman gives us access to incredible outdoor recreation opportunities and an inspiring space to develop our payment solutions,” Wunderlich told Bozeman Magazine.
Wunderlich continued by noting that Credova wants to contribute to Bozeman's economic advancement. To do that, Credova announced the ambitious task of hiring many Bozeman and Gallatin County residents across several different departments.
Local Bozeman design firm, A&E Design, is currently assisting Credova in creating the interior design for the new offices. An A&E Design architect, Jennifer Dunn, explained that their team merged mountain themes and modern design inspiration, creating an atmosphere that will only enhance the company's outdoor adventure lifestyle.
Why Is This A Timely Decision?
Both BNPL financing platforms and the outdoor recreation industry grew in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. "People want to get outside and get away, even for a moment, from the COVID-related hardships they have experienced." Dusty Wunderlich offered Bozeman Magazine reporter in regards to the growth. Wunderlich acknowledged this was a crucial step for the organization, decreasing the barriers between outdoor recreational activities and the consumers who love them.
Fishing, hiking, camping, and hunting are among the outdoor activities that saw significant popularity growth during the lockdowns in 2020. The exponential growth of buy now, pay later financing platforms in the market is even more impressive during that time.
Credova has uniquely placed itself to capitalize on the growth of both industries. Credova allows consumers to buy more expensive items right away but make payments over time. Credova coming to Bozeman will likely answer many outdoor adventure-loving citizens’ prayers starting in 2022.
