Published:
Jul 03, 2023
Author:
Sarah Parsons Wolter
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Does the term “pickler” ring a bell? If not, this holiday weekend is your chance to get up to speed and onto the court. While customer acquisition has been increasingly costly for DTC models, an unassuming newcomer is snapping up users left and right - outside of the fintech sector, unfortunately.
Pickleball is rocking the racket sport landscape throughout the US, set to reach 22.3m players in 2023. This would represent 365% growth over the past two years. Players also are higher earners than average, with ~50% netting annual incomes of $100k+.
This up and coming sport has caused a spike in more than just courttime competition, however. UnitedHealth Group has cited rising utilization rates among the prime pickleball population - those in their 60s and 70s. The cause? Yep, you guessed it. Pickleball is estimated to contribute $250-500m in healthcare costs in 2023 alone. Pickleball players: proceed with caution.
Portfolio News
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In A Pickle
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Industry News
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Select Financings
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Fennech - London based corporate banking startup raised £2.3m in Seed funding led by Lloyds Banking Group. Read more
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Maza - Los Angeles based immigrant tax identity startup raised $8m in Seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz. Read more
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