Bluestone Invests $30M in Selkirk Sport to Accelerate Pickleball Expansion

Selkirk Pickleball Secures $200 Million Investment – Key Takeaways

Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the article about Selkirk Pickleball and its recent investment:

* Investment: Selkirk has secured its first-ever outside investment – a deal valuing the company at approximately $200 million – from bluestone, a sports, media, and technology investment firm.
* Company Performance: selkirk is a profitable company projected to generate at least $100 million in revenue this year. Revenue has grown by 1,900% since 2019, largely due to the surge in pickleball’s popularity post-pandemic.
* Family-Owned & Operated: The company was founded 12 years ago by the Barnes family – Mike (31), Rob (33), Jim (father, president), and Tom (29, R&D director). They built the business from the ground up.
* Vertically Integrated Manufacturing: Selkirk maintains control over its production process, manufacturing all products in the United States. Jim Barnes’ background in construction was instrumental in setting up the manufacturing side.
* Early Adopters: The Barnes family recognized the potential of pickleball early on, entering the market when it was a niche sport.
* Growth & Expansion: The investment will be used to fund growth plans in Asia and other international markets, as well as further investment in technology and product development.
* Distribution: Selkirk sells its products directly to consumers through its website and also through major retailers like Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Costco, and Amazon.
* Beyond Products: Selkirk has expanded beyond manufacturing to include a research and development division and a media arm focused on pickleball content.
* Strategic Investment Partner: The Barnes family chose Bluestone for a minority stake investment to maintain control of the company, valuing Bluestone’s expertise in sports, media, and technology. Bluestone was founded by bobby Sharma, a veteran in the sports industry.
* Future Vision: selkirk aims to be the largest pickleball company globally.

In essence, the article highlights the remarkable growth of a family-run business that capitalized on the exploding popularity of pickleball, and their strategic decision to bring in investment to fuel further expansion while retaining control.