Paddletek buys PIKKL and signs the Johnsons in pickleball land grab
What's the deal? Paddletek GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired PIKKLDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the performance paddle company founded by Mike Strommen and Dan Martinson, and signed professional players JW Johnson, Jorja Johnson, Julie Johnson, and Hurricane Tyra Black to Team Paddletek. Terms were not disclosed. The moves were announced on July 7, 2026.
What's the endgame? Paddletek Group, managed by private equity firm Thirty-5 CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, is building a unified platform for pickleball and padel. Its portfolio already includes Paddletek, ProXRDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Yobow, plus paddle families such as Bantam, Tempest, and the recently launched Honeyfoam platform. PIKKL's technology now joins that lineup.
Why now? The company had been evaluating PIKKL as part of a strategy to expand its market footprint, while JW and Jorja Johnson spent months searching for paddle technology suited to their game. "The two paths came together, and we didn't hesitate at the opportunity to put together one of the most talented groups in pickleball," said Ron Saslow, founder and managing partner of Thirty-5 Capital.
What changes? Strommen and Martinson will stay on to drive paddle innovation. "Joining Paddletek gives us the opportunity to bring our expertise and passion to a group that shares our commitment to growing the sport," Strommen said.
The signal: As pickleball grows globally, Paddletek is consolidating brands, technology, and top athletes under one roof. The company says its roster has won more than 500 championships worldwide, and it serves as an official paddle sponsor of Major League Pickleball, the Professional Pickleball Association, the US Open Pickleball Championships, and the USAP Nationals. The dual acquisition-and-signing play shows how capital is chasing scale in one of sport's fastest-growing categories.
Read more: PR Newswire
Image credit: Catch Central Florida
