GoPro Acquired by Starman Optical for AI Infrastructure Pivot
In a significant shift from its roots as an action camera manufacturer, GoPro has agreed to be acquired by photonics company Starman Optical in a $285 million deal. The acquisition will see current shareholders retain about 10% of the combined entity and reduce GoPro’s debt burden by approximately $92 million. Starman plans to repurpose GoPro into an AI infrastructure firm, focusing on data centers and defense technology—echoing Allbirds’ recent pivot from sustainable footwear to NewBird AI. The deal has already driven a sharp rise in GoPro's stock price, with shares surging nearly 100% over the past week. The move follows years of declining relevance for GoPro as professional content creation and improved smartphone cameras eroded its consumer market share. Influencer Markiplier (Mark Fischbach) also acquired an 8.5% stake in GoPro just before the announcement, further fueling investor enthusiasm.
Topics: AI data centers defense tech meme stocks stock price movement