Pickleball Brand Selkirk Secures $30 Million in First-Ever Funding
Recently, US pickleball brand Selkirk announced a $30 million investment from New York private equity firm Bluestone Equity Partners. This is Selkirk's first-ever funding, valuing the brand at $200 million post-investment.
Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Selkirk has grown rapidly in recent years. Since 2019, brand revenue has increased 19-fold, with 2024 revenue up 70%. The company is already profitable, with projected 2026 revenue of at least $100 million.
Selkirk will use this investment for global expansion, particularly in Asian markets, while focusing on pickleball and continuing investment in technology and product R&D.
Selkirk CEO Mike Barnes said: "We have no plans to enter other sports. We are not just trying to build the largest pickleball company, but starting from manufacturing, we are building a world-class sports enterprise."
Selkirk is currently comprehensively building out the pickleball ecosystem:
In product R&D, in May 2025, Selkirk invested millions of dollars to build an R&D lab at its headquarters, featuring a series of robotic arms, a set of 3D printers for rapid prototyping, a CT scanner to observe internal changes in paddles, and a ball machine for simulating play in specific environments.
In sales, Selkirk has opened direct-to-consumer stores in Boise and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and sells directly to consumers through its website as well as Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Costco, Amazon, and other major retailers.
Above: Selkirk's direct-to-consumer store in Coeur d'Alene headquarters
Selkirk also launched the first free pickleball streaming platform, Selkirk Pickleball TV, which broadcasts matches and produces instructional content, podcasts, shows, and documentaries. It has signed well-known athletes such as Catherine Parenteau, Dylan Frazier, and Jack Sock.
In December 2025, Selkirk partnered with Tesla to incorporate aerodynamic knowledge into pickleball paddle manufacturing, jointly creating the most expensive pickleball paddle on the market, priced at $350, which sold out immediately upon release.
Above: The paddle co-developed by Selkirk and Tesla
In terms of management, Selkirk has maintained a family-run model. The brand name comes from the Selkirk Range in northern Idaho, founded by the local Barnes family in 2014.
Brothers Rob and Mike started their entrepreneurial journey in high school, running the business successfully with their father's support. After discovering pickleball in 2010, they believed the sport had great potential and began reforming wooden paddles into ones using new materials like fiberglass and graphite, focusing on performance and technology.
Above: The Barnes family, founders of Selkirk
From a family workshop producing 25 pickleball paddles a day, Selkirk now has over 200 employees and has become one of the most prominent brands in the fast-growing pickleball industry.
Currently, the company is co-led by eldest brother Rob and second brother Mike as co-CEOs, with father Jim serving as President and youngest son Tom as R&D Director.
In addition to the Barnes family, Selkirk's management includes senior executives who have worked at major sports brands such as Nike and Adidas.
Selkirk began seeking funding last year. Family members revealed: "We wanted to find a partner, only taking a minority stake, rather than seeking multiple investors and giving up control of the company."
Selkirk ultimately chose Bluestone, making it the fund's first investment in the pickleball space. Bluestone invested through its first fund, Bluestone Capital I, which raised a total of $300 million.
Bluestone was founded in 2023 by veteran investor and sports executive Bobby Sharma, focusing on investing in sports, media, and technology companies. Bobby Sharma's previous roles include Global Head of Basketball and Strategic Initiatives at IMG and Vice President and General Counsel of the NBA Development League.
｜Image source: Selkirk official website