College Student Launches Pickleball Paddle Company To Spark Joy On The Court

Allison Pine, a student in her senior year at California Lutheran University, has turned her passion for playing pickleball with her family into a successful business venture called Pikl Pals, which promotes endorphins and overall wellness.

With the unwavering support of her family and mentors, Pine launched Pikl Pals in December of 2023. The company offers pickleball paddles that are adorned with green smiley faces. Which is following the trend of vibrant and eclectic paddles hitting the market recently. Pine believes this helps people feel more inclined to pick up a paddle, start playing, and become inspired to live a life of wellness.

“My goal with Pikl Pals is to create a space for people from all walks of life to connect through movement.”

Pine has dreamed of starting her own business since she was eight. Her parents were entrepreneurs, and Pine saw the risks they took to make their dreams a reality. She was never afraid of taking risks to start her own business, and the idea was always exciting. Finally, she has been able to fulfill her lifelong ambition.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pine and her family entered fitness and wellness. They discovered that playing pickleball was something they all enjoyed and benefited from, no matter their wellness stage. Pine’s dad had been through three surgeries, and her sister had just given birth. Despite their different stages of wellness, they could still connect through playing pickleball together and moving around, which was inspiring to Pine.

“I loved how we could connect through movement and pickleball,” Pine says.

As Pine continued to explore her passion for pickleball, she discovered that the paddles available in the market needed to be more aesthetically pleasing. She took a risk and created a design she hoped other pickleball players would appreciate.

Her favorite part of the journey began during the research and development period, where she would talk to people about her paddles and ask for feedback. This process allowed her to meet new people and learn from them.

The Entrepreneurship Club at Cal Lutheran helped Pine along her journey by offering brainstorming sessions, creating a plan of action, and teaching her about business strategy.

“What she’s doing is creating something unique and trendy and fashionable. I think it will bring awareness to those who don’t think of pickleball as something they can do for wellness,” says Adam Amzalag, a mentor to Pine and an entrepreneur.

Since the creation of Pikl Pals, Pine has been getting more people to the pickleball courts. She has found that focusing on the pickleball industry and creating a high-quality product is a fast-growing market. Pine’s ultimate goal is to sell Pikl Pals internationally, but for now, she is excited to market to different people across the United States.

“I think Allison will be successful in anything that she does. She has an amazing attitude, warmth, and natural charm around her. She is genuinely interested in other people, and I think that whatever path she chooses, she will be successful,” says Dianne Gubin, a mentor to Pine and the Principal at Capital InVentures.

Young Allison Pine has turned her passion for pickleball into a successful business venture. With hard work, determination, and support from her family and mentors, she has created a product that promotes wellness and brings people together through movement. Her future is bright, and she has the potential to make a positive impact on the world.