GoPro, Inc.

About GoPro

GoPro is a US technology company headquartered in San Mateo (California), founded in 2002 by Nick Woodman. The company develops and distributes compact, waterproof and rugged action cameras such as the Hero, MAX and Mission-1 series, as well as accessories such as gimbal stabilizers, wireless microphones, batteries, mounts and lighting. In addition, GoPro develops its own apps and video software (Quik, Player with HyperSmooth Pro, GoPro Webcam, MISSION Monitor) and offers a subscription service. The products are primarily used in sports and leisure as well as by content creators; in 2026 a GoPro camera was used as mission equipment on NASA's Artemis II mission. After financial difficulties, in 2026 the optics and photonics manufacturer Starman Optical acquired 90% of the company's shares for USD 285 million; the merger agreement provides for expansion into AI data centers, government, defense and aerospace. GoPro was listed on the Nasdaq in 2014 (ticker GPRO).

Site

San Mateo, California, USA

Processes

Software/apps (Quik, Player with HyperSmooth Pro, GoPro Webcam, MISSION Monitor), GoPro subscription service, Content programs (GoPro Awards, Million Dollar Challenge)

Founded

2002

Industries

Consumer electronics / action cameras, Wearables & accessories, optical/photonic components (from 2026 merger: AI data centers,, Drone technology (discontinued 2018), optical/photonic components (from 2026 merger, target sectors:

1. 01

   Product development

2. 02

   Manufacturing by contract manufacturers

3. 03

   Software and app development

4. 04

   Distribution (direct sales, retail)

5. 05

   Marketing via user-generated content

Locations

Products

Inside the production

History

1. 2002

   Founded by Nick Woodman (Woodman Labs, Inc.) after a surf trip to Australia

2. 2004

   First camera: Hero 35 mm (35 mm film camera)

3. 2006

   First digital devices

4. 2007

   Digital Hero 3 – first device with sound

5. 2009

   Digital Hero 5 with panoramic function

6. 2010

   HD Hero – first 1080p camera; introduction of user-generated-content marketing

7. 2011

   Acquisition of CineForm including the CineForm-444 video codec

8. 2012

   HD Hero 3 with 4K recording; Foxconn acquires 8% for USD 200 million

9. 2014

   IPO on the Nasdaq (GPRO), 17.8 million shares at USD 24 each

10. 2015

    Acquisition of Kolor (spherical media/VR)

11. 2016

    Acquisition of Stupeflix & Vemory (USD 105 million); entry into the drone business with Karma; Hero 5 with video stabilization

12. 2017

    Karma sales launch in Germany; 270 additional job cuts

13. 2018

    Exit from the drone business; a further 250 job cuts, workforce just under 1,000

14. 2020

    More than 20% job cuts as a result of COVID-19

15. 2024

    Acquisition of Forcite Helmet Systems (~USD 14 million)

16. 2026

    April: GoPro cameras as mission equipment on Artemis II; September: merger with Starman Optical – 90% acquired for USD 285 million, USD 92 million of debt repaid