Thirty-5 Capital Adds SQAIRZ Footwear to Sports Investment Portfolio
Latest Strategic Investment Backs Launch of New Line of Pickleball Shoes
Thirty-5 Capital, LLC, a family office and private equity firm focused on sports technology and innovation companies, today announced a strategic investment in SQAIRZ, known for its innovations in sports footwear. The investment will help underwrite the planned November launch of a new line of pickleball shoes that will expand Thirty-5 Capital’s pickleball portfolio while also extending SQAIRZ’ reach to a new sports market.
Available for both men and women players, the new pickleball shoes will utilize the patented toe box design that SQAIRZ developed to enhance athletic performance. This unique design allows the toes to sit naturally and spread, providing better stability and enhanced ground connection. A pivot point on the outsole allows for optimal rotational movements and a hybrid east/west, north/south directionalized outsole pattern, ensuring superior traction for both front/back and lateral movements. In addition, the slightly wider base under the forefoot, lateral side out-rigger nodules, and a heel-to-arch stabilizer significantly reduce rollover injury.
Thirty-5 Capital has been working closely with SQAIRZ for over a year to test a shoe that applies these innovations to the movements of pickleball play. The new shoes will be co-branded with SQAIRZ and ProXR, one of the three pickleball paddle brands that Thirty-5 Capital combined under its new United Pickleball Paddles (UPP) umbrella earlier this year.
Thirty-5 Capital also is the majority owner of the Chicago Slice, a Major League Pickleball franchise, and is building a portfolio of quality pickleball brands under its United Pickleball Properties, LLC, investment sleeve to both support and advance the explosive growth of the sport. SQAIRZ is the firm’s first sports footwear investment.
“We selected SQAIRZ for our entry into the footwear market because their patented technology is literally changing the game in the areas of the sports market in which they participate,” said Ron Saslow, Founder and Managing Partner of Thirty-5 Capital. “Our pickleball investments are laser-focused on bringing the best equipment and apparel to players of all levels, and adding SQAIRZ to our family of brands is ‘squarely’ aligned with that mission.”
Thirty-5 Capital’s financial support is also expected to facilitate SQAIRZ’ expansion to the baseball arena.
"Thirty-5 Capital’s strategic investment and expertise will help us expand our footprint in the sports footwear market and bring our revolutionary designs to a wider audience,” said Robert Winskowicz, CEO of SQAIRZ. “Our goal has always been to enhance athletic performance and prevent injuries, and this partnership will accelerate our ability to achieve that across multiple sports domains.”
About Thirty-5 Capital
Thirty-5 Capital holds a robust portfolio of investments in professional sports teams, leagues, and innovative technology-driven sports companies. https://www.thirtyfivecapital.com/
About SQAIRZ
SQAIRZ is dedicated to enhancing athletic performance through innovative footwear designs. Known for its patented SQAIRZ toe box design, SQAIRZ continues to set new standards in sports footwear, focusing on balance, stability and injury prevention. For more information, visit https://sqairz.com/