In early 2026, Coeur d'Alene-based Selkirk Sport LLC, a family-owned sports and lifestyle brand centered on pickleball, formalized its first outside capital injection with a $30 million strategic minority investment from Bluestone Equity Partners.

Selkirk Sport has grown significantly with a 1,900% increase in total revenue and a 2,100% increase in workforce since 2019. Its growth is attributed to aggressive scaling of operational capacity, product engineering, and market share since the company was founded by brothers Rob and Mike Barnes, alongside their father Jim Barnes, in 2014.

The company also has successfully established a vertically integrated global footprint, growing from a single domestic site to three international operating hubs. Since it's founding, Selkirk Sport has grown from a 10-employee manufacturer to over 220 employees across operations in Coeur d'Alene, Estonia, and Malaysia.

What are your expectations for growth in the coming years? We anticipate our total revenue to exceed $100 million in 2026 as we capture market share in emerging territories and diversify our product lines into the high-growth footwear and "lifestyle-to-court" segments.

How has the organization adapted or innovated in the past year? Over the past year, we have significantly expanded our reach through high-level technical partnerships, most notably our collaboration with Tesla. This initiative saw the Selkirk Research & Development lab work directly with Tesla’s design and aerodynamics teams to develop the Tesla Plaid Paddle.

By applying Tesla’s engineering and aerodynamic modeling — tools typically reserved for automotive performance — we co-designed an edgeless paddle with an open-throat silhouette that drastically reduces drag. The initial launch sold out in under two hours, and a subsequent restock was depleted in less than five minutes, signaling a massive demand for engineering-led equipment.

Are there any other reasons this organization deserves to be considered for this honor? Selkirk Sport serves as a structural pillar for the professionalization of pickleball. We have not only built a $200 million company but have fostered the industry’s first collegiate sponsorship programs and established the Pickleball Combine to discover and support the next generation of professional athletes. Our blend of high-tech data integration, family-founded values, and a commitment to vertical integration makes us a model for modern, sustainable growth in the global sports sector.

Survey responses may have been edited for length and clarity.