Sawtooth Wins $30,000 Grand Prize at Outdoor Weber Competition

 

Most startup wins are about funding.

This one was about validation.

Sawtooth took first place and the $30,000 grand prize at the annual Outdoor Weber Competition hosted by Weber State University. The company was developed inside the Master of Business Creation program at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, and the award helped confirm what truck owners already understand: pickup bed cargo management has needed a better answer for a long time.

That matters because Sawtooth is not just another version of a flat truck bed cover. Sawtooth STRETCH is an Adaptive Cargo Management System, or ACMS, designed to protect and secure both small and larger cargo.

For pickup owners comparing tonneau covers, truck bed covers, caps, and cargo systems, this recognition points to a simple market reality: flat systems are useful, but they are limited. Truck owners need more versatility.

Quick Summary: Why This Award Matters

• Sawtooth won first place: The company received the $30,000 grand prize at Outdoor Weber.
• The award validated the product category: Judges recognized the need for better pickup cargo management.
• Sawtooth is different from flat systems: Tonneau covers and truck bed covers work best when cargo stays below the bed rails.
• Sawtooth STRETCH adapts: It is designed to protect and secure both small cargo and taller, bulkier loads.
• Truck owners benefit: The system gives pickups more capability without forcing owners into a fixed-height cap.

Why Sawtooth Stood Out

The Outdoor Weber Competition focuses on outdoor recreation, mobility, and practical product ideas. That made Sawtooth a strong fit.

Pickup trucks are everywhere in outdoor life. They haul camping gear, kayaks, fishing equipment, bikes, coolers, tools, recovery gear, hunting gear, and weekend project supplies. The problem is that much of that cargo does not sit neatly below the bed rails.

That is where many flat systems start to fail the owner.

A flat truck bed cover can work well when the load is low. But once the cargo rises above the bed rails, the owner usually has to fold the cover, roll it, retract it, remove it, or drive with the bed exposed.

That creates the exact problem Sawtooth was built to solve.

If you are comparing options, it helps to understand the different types of truck bed covers and where those limitations come from.

The Problem With Flat Systems

Tonneau covers and truck bed covers are flat systems.

Flat systems only work when cargo stays below the bed rails. That is fine for groceries, duffel bags, small tools, low storage bins, and low-profile cargo.

But real truck use is messier than that.

Common Loads That Break the Flat-Cover Plan

• Large coolers
• Stacked camping bins
• Generators
• Toolboxes
• Outdoor gear
• Jobsite materials
• Bikes and sports equipment
• Odd-shaped cargo that refuses to behave

When cargo gets taller, protection drops. Concealment drops. Weather resistance drops. The truck owner is left working around the cover instead of benefiting from it.

That is not a small inconvenience. It is a category limitation.

What Sawtooth Actually Built

Sawtooth introduced a different category of pickup truck cargo management.

Sawtooth STRETCH is an Adaptive Cargo Management System designed to work with the cargo instead of forcing the cargo to fit under a fixed flat surface.

It can sit lower when the bed is carrying small cargo, then adapt over taller, bulkier, or more irregular loads. That gives truck owners increased capacity and increased versatility from the bed they already own.

What That Means for Truck Owners

• Small cargo stays covered: Everyday gear, bags, tools, and low bins can be protected.
• Larger cargo can still be managed: Taller and bulkier loads do not automatically force the system out of use.
• The bed stays useful: Owners do not have to choose between cargo capacity and cargo protection as often.
• It offers an alternative to caps: Owners get adaptive cargo protection without committing to a fixed-height shell.

For model-specific applications, see Sawtooth STRETCH for the Ford F-150, Toyota Tacoma, and Chevy Colorado.

Built for Outdoor Use and Everyday Truck Work

Outdoor gear does not always fit cleanly in a truck bed.

A weekend camping trip can start with one cooler and somehow turn into sleeping bags, chairs, a stove, water containers, firewood, a tent, storage bins, and a mountain of soft gear that looks like it was packed by raccoons with a deadline.

A flat system works only if everything stays low.

Sawtooth is designed for real loading situations. It is built for pickup owners who use their trucks for recreation, work, errands, travel, and projects. That practical fit is a major reason the company stood out in an outdoor-focused entrepreneurship competition.

For a broader explanation of how an adaptive system changes everyday truck utility, read 10 Reasons You Need an ACMS.

Recognition From a Competitive Outdoor Startup Field

Winning Outdoor Weber was meaningful because the competition was not only about having a clever idea.

It was about market need, usefulness, product potential, and whether the idea solved a real problem for outdoor consumers.

The official Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute announcement about Sawtooth’s Outdoor Weber win reported that Sawtooth won first place and the $30,000 grand prize at the third annual Weber State University Camping World Outdoor Weber student entrepreneurship competition.

The same announcement identified D.J. Potter as Sawtooth’s founder and a participant in the University of Utah’s Master of Business Creation program.

The University of Utah Master of Business Creation program is designed for entrepreneurs growing startup companies, combining graduate-level business education with startup development.

For more context on the competition itself, this Outdoor Weber Recreation Idea Competition video from Weber State Business & Economics gives a helpful look at the competition environment and outdoor entrepreneurship focus.

What This Means for Pickup Owners

Awards only matter if they point to something real.

For pickup owners, this award points to a problem they already know.

You should not have to choose between using your truck bed and protecting your cargo. You should not have to expose your gear just because one cooler, storage tote, toolbox, or piece of equipment sits above the rails.

Sawtooth Helps Solve That Problem

• It gives owners a more adaptive way to cover and secure cargo.
• It helps reduce the need to remove or abandon the system when cargo gets taller.
• It keeps the pickup bed more useful across more real-world loading situations.
• It gives truck owners an alternative to flat-only and restrictive covers like truck bed covers and tonneau covers.

That is the practical value behind the award.

Why It Matters Compared With Caps

Caps solve some problems, but they create others.

A cap gives you fixed-height enclosed cargo space. That can be useful for camping, tools, pets, and work gear. But a cap changes the truck full-time. It adds height, weight, cost, and a more permanent setup.

Sawtooth STRETCH gives truck owners another route.

It is an adaptive alternative to caps for owners who want more versatility without committing to a fixed-height shell.

For a deeper comparison, read Tonneau Covers vs. Caps.

The Bigger Picture

The Outdoor Weber win was a milestone, but the bigger story is the category shift.

Truck owners are asking for more capability. They want cargo protection, security, flexibility, and bed access without the old tradeoff of “cover it only if it stays low.”

Sawtooth STRETCH was built into that demand.

It gives pickup owners a more adaptive way to protect and secure cargo, while helping the bed stay useful when the load changes size, shape, or height.

Learn More

Review common product questions on the Sawtooth FAQs page, or browse available applications on the All Products page.

Load more. Haul more. Do more.