Riding continued rapid adoption of the sport of pickleball, Selkirk Sport scored a “major investment” from Bluestone Equity Partners, a New York-based private equity firm focused on the sports, media & entertainment industry.
The funding amount wasn’t disclosed.
Founded in 2014 by brothers Rob and Mike Barnes, and their father Jim, Selkirk Sport has become a leading pickleball equipment manufacturer as pickleball in 2024 ranked as the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the fourth straight year.
According to statements from Bluestone Equity and Selkirk, growth is expected to persist as communities continue to invest in pickleball, with a 55 percent year-over-year increase in the number of dedicated facilities and a 23 percent increase in total courts in 2024 alone, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
Since 2019, Selkirk has delivered “significant multi-year growth,” with total revenue increasing approximately 1,900 percent through the end of 2025.
Selkirk ‘s growth, according to the media release, has been helped by its R&D capabilities, including being the first brand to offer a limited lifetime warranty in the category and pioneering 16mm paddle core, now a widely adopted performance standard.
Selkirk has recently expanded its reach by launching the SLK by Selkirk brand, offering pickleball gear at more accessible price points; an exclusive, long-term partnership with Costco, and the launch of Selkirk Pickleball TV, the sport’s first free TV app. Recent innovations include the Project Boomstik, featuring new patent-pending technology; the CourtStrike series, Selkirk’s first mainline court shoe line; and and the Tesla Plaid Paddle by Selkirk, a viral collaboration with Tesla Inc.’s automotive engineering team.
Selkirk marks the ninth investment for Bluestone from its inaugural $300 million fund, launched in a single closing during the first quarter of 2023. Other investments in Bluestone’s current portfolio include Qloo, PMY Group, RWS Global , Rhombus, Volo Sports, Players Health, Scorability and Minute Media.
As a part of the transaction, Walker Brumskine, a partner at Bluestone, will join Selkirk’s Board of Directors, and Shaaz Khan, Bluestone’s founder and managing partner, will join as a Board Observer.
“One of the premier equipment manufacturers in any sport, Selkirk is the category leader in the well-established and still rapidly scaling sport of pickleball, and a very synergistic addition to the Bluestone portfolio” said Bobby Sharma, Bluestone founder and managing partner. “Since 2019, the number of adults playing pickleball in the U.S. has increased sixfold, now numbering in the tens of millions, achieving true mass participation. As growth-focused, value-added investors, we look forward to partnering with Selkirk’s management team to support both organic and inorganic expansion, including targeted international growth in Asia and opportunistic M&A in the fragmented equipment market in the U.S.”
“Selkirk has built a powerful and focused pickleball platform that is ideally positioned as the sport continues to gain momentum in the U.S. and beyond,” said Co-Founder & Co-CEO Mike Barnes. “As a leader in the sport, we’ve built a cutting-edge retail and direct-to-consumer distribution channel, supported by investments in content platforms like Selkirk Pickleball TV, a brand ambassador program with more than 1,300 advocates across the U.S. and sponsorships of elite and emerging pickleball pros.”
Co-Founder & CEO Rob Barnes added, “With Bluestone’s partnership, we’re set to accelerate innovation, distribution, and global brand reach. We’re exceptionally well positioned to serve a global player base as markets such as India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines develop. As pickleball goes global, we have exciting plans, including next-gen paddles, a new line of quiet pickleballs, and reimagined footwear. Our commitment to innovation and performance remains central to our strategy.”
Image courtesy Selkirk Sport
