St. Louis Sports Grip Technology Startup ProXR Scores Investment from Thirty-5 Capital

ProXR LLC, a St. Louis startup focused on sports grip technology, has inked a deal with a private equity firm founded by a member of the Chicago Cubs ownership group. The company has entered into an investment partnership with Thirty-5 Capital of Chicago, alongside existing investor and board member Robert Morley, a former professor of electrical and systems engineering at Washington University. Terms of the financing were not disclosed.

I'm excited to lead the growth of ProXR's brand. The products they've developed are precisely what athletes around the world are searching for, innovations that improve performance and increase power.

Ron Saslow, Founder and Managing Partner, Thirty-5 Capital

Founded in 2014, ProXR develops ergonomic grip technology for baseball and other sports. Saslow said he was drawn to ProXR because of its disruptive technology and ability to create products that can be used globally across multiple sports. He founded Thirty-5 Capital in 2019 and operates the firm with his son Joey. He was previously chairman and CEO of dental products manufacturer Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., which he sold in October, and is a limited partner of the parent company of the Chicago Cubs.

Thirty-5 Capital will take a hands-on approach with ProXR. Saslow is joining as chief commercial officer, focusing on global marketing and expansion, while founder Grady Phelan has taken on the position of chief innovation officer. The company was founded on Phelan's patented angled baseball bat technology, designed to improve performance and safety. In 2010, Mike Hessman became the first Major League Baseball player to use the technology, which has since been used by several MLB players. In April, ProXR signed license agreements with five MLB-approved bat companies.

This is going to allow us to support those licensees with marketing, messaging and research to help them sell the ProXR bats that they're making now.

Grady Phelan, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, ProXR

The company is also targeting other sports, with plans to advance its hockey stick knob and enter sectors including golf, as well as the aluminum and youth bat markets. ProXR estimates a potential market size of more than 60 million North American athletes.