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Courtsmith gets equity investment from ICA

By Kristopher Fraser

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Business

Image: ICA

Fast-growing sportswear brand Courtsmith, maker of fashion-forward athletic wear, has received an investment from ICA. The Oakland-based company just closed a 300,000 dollar equity investment from ICA’s Growth Fund. 

Courtsmith was founded by Courtney “Court” Smith, the company first gained recognition with its line of team uniforms and basketball apparel for local youth teams and has been expanding ever since. It will be launching a new women’s collection this fall, along with its first-ever footwear line. Expansion into new sports like football and soccer is planned too.

ICA first partnered with Courtsmith when the company participated in the Accelerator at ICA, the high-impact business accelerator program for Bay Area companies looking to raise growth capital. Building on years of partnership, Courtsmith is the latest high-growth company to receive funding after completing the program. 

“ICA has been there all along the way,” said Smith in a statement. “Entrepreneurs have to have the wide perspective on the business and know how to do everything. Through the mentorship and strategic advising we received in the Accelerator to now receiving this investment, ICA has been an invaluable partner in our trajectory.”

In addition to producing high quality apparel, Courtsmith partners with up-and-coming athletes in a shared equity model that enables athletes to build their personal brands while expanding the company’s customer base. Recently, the company has focused heavily on building out its direct-to-consumer channels. Courtsmith has mostly recovered from shipping and manufacturing delays, and a pandemic-related downturn. It has rehired some of the workforce it was forced to cut in 2020 and now employs six employees with a view to tripling its workforce in the next four years. 

“Court’s vision, commitment to his business, and mission-alignment are a great fit for the Growth Fund portfolio,” said John Gough, chief investment officer at ICA in a statement. “We are thrilled to lead this round and excited to see what’s coming for the brand under Court’s leadership.”

As a nonprofit venture capital Community Development Financial Institution, ICA makes investments that support our mission to accelerate great businesses to close the racial and gender wealth gaps. The company intentionally hires from under-represented populations and works with juvenile re-entry programs in the Bay Area to provide job opportunities to young people looking for work. 

ICA’s 300,000 dollar equity investment is structured as a convertible note and leads Courtsmith’s 575,000 dollar round. Under Smith’s leadership, the company is once again growing fast and will use ICA’s investment to expand its marketing spend, boost apparel manufacturing, and launch its forthcoming shoe line. As part of the investment ICA will take a seat on Courtsmith’s board of directors, with ICA board president, Jack Russi, national managing partner at Deloitte, set to take on the position. 

“Courtsmith demonstrates the special blend of mission-alignment, brand equity, and strong growth trajectory that ICA looks for in all of its investments,” added Gough in a statement. “Good jobs start with good businesses and ICA is thrilled to welcome Courtsmith to our portfolio.” 

For ICA, the deal is the latest addition to ICA’s Growth Fund. The Growth Fund provides access to growth equity investments of 100,000 dollars to 1,000,000 dollars with a focus on serving entrepreneurs of color and women. The investment strategy intentionally focuses on racial and gender equity, and supports companies that are committed to our shared mission of wealth creation and distribution to a diverse workforce. 

Courtsmith
ICA