Puzzle Rides Honored as a 2025 CO-100 Disruptor by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

SCOTTSDALE & PRESCOTT, Ariz. — October 2025 

Puzzle Rides, the Arizona adventure and team-building company known for transforming teamwork into real-world adventure, was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses in the Disruptor Category at the 2025 CO—100 Awards in Washington, D.C.

Founders Katie and Gregg Dufort represented Arizona at the three-day event held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, directly across from the White House and Lafayette Park. The celebration included a cocktail reception at the historic Decatur House, the Night of 100 Stars Gala featuring Broadway performer Christopher J Hanke, and sessions sponsored by Dell, Google, American Express, Coinbase, and T-Mobile.

“It was absolutely amazing to be surrounded by some of the most forward-thinking small-business owners in the country,” said Katie Dufort, founder and creative director of Puzzle Rides. “We were honored to represent Arizona and to see firsthand how innovation, collaboration, and sheer determination are shaping America’s future.”

The event concluded with a powerful session led by Shark Tank’s Daymond John, which the Duforts described as “the most valuable 90 minutes of business education we’ve ever experienced.”

“We learned more about business leadership and growth strategy in that one morning than we had in five years,” said Gregg Dufort, operations director and co-founder. “We came home fired up — and with a notebook full of ideas to apply immediately.”

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From Local Adventure to National Recognition

Founded in Prescott, Arizona in July 2020, Puzzle Rides launched its first outdoor “escape room on wheels” using custom golf carts. The concept quickly took off, expanding to Old Town Scottsdale just a few months later in October 2020.

As the company grew, Puzzle Rides redefined what team building could look like. Their signature corporate experiences — including Puzzle Relay and Puzzle Rounds — challenged teams to collaborate under pressure, communicate creatively, and think strategically in real-world settings. What truly set Puzzle Rides apart was the introduction of the Team Dynamics Report, a proprietary post-event analysis that translates participant behavior into actionable leadership insights. By merging adventure with organizational psychology, the Duforts positioned Puzzle Rides as innovators in corporate engagement, earning a reputation as a go-to disruptor in experiential learning.

In May 2025, the Duforts opened The Puzzle Shop in downtown Prescott — a vibrant new retail and event hub that anchors their vision for franchise expansion. The shop houses The Puzzle Library Society, Puzzle Leagues, Murder Mystery Nights, and rotating artist collaborations, blending hands-on play with local community engagement.

“The Prescott community has truly embraced us,” Katie added. “We’re already exploring locations to open a Puzzle Shop Scottsdale and welcome interest from strategic partners or angel investors who want to join us in bringing our franchise vision to life.”

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About Puzzle Rides

Founded in 2020, Puzzle Rides turns teamwork into adventure. What began as a single mobile “escape room on wheels” has evolved into a multifaceted entertainment brand offering Puzzle Rides, Puzzle Rounds, Puzzle Relay, and immersive puzzle-based events for Fortune 500 companies, private groups, and tourists alike.

Puzzle Rides currently operates in Prescott and Scottsdale, Arizona, with franchise expansion underway. Learn more at www.PuzzleRides.com or call (602) 601-2261.

Media Contact:

Katie Dufort

Founder & Creative Director, Puzzle Rides

📧 katie@puzzlerides.com | 📞 (602) 601-2261