GoPro Inks $285 Million Deal to Merge with Starman Optical

GoPro, long known for its rugged action cameras, has announced a $285 million merger with Starman Optical to wipe out its debt and pivot into AI data centers, defense, and national security tech.

Under the terms of the agreement, GoPro shareholders will receive an aggregate cash payout equivalent to $1.14 per share, subject to working capital adjustments at closing. Existing GoPro shareholders will also retain approximately 10% ownership in the newly expanded entity.

The deal completely resets GoPro’s balance sheet by paying off its outstanding debt of roughly $92 million in full. The company will remain publicly listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Starman Optical specializes in developing and manufacturing optical transceivers. By combining Starman’s domestic manufacturing capabilities with GoPro’s optical design patents and image processing intellectual property, the combined company plans to target the booming market for AI computing infrastructure. Beyond data centers, the new entity intends to supply optical hardware to defense contractors, government agencies, robotics firms, and aerospace applications.

“Advanced optics and imaging are essential to AI, national security, and the broader economy, yet much of the critical hardware supporting these technologies continues to be manufactured overseas,” said Charles Tebele, Chief Executive Officer of Starman Holding. “Together, we intend to bring production of these critical components back to the United States.”

Nicholas Woodman, Founder and CEO of GoPro, shared a similar perspective on the company’s future direction.

“We expect this merger to enable GoPro to grow across consumer, commercial and defense markets as a leading American imaging and optical solutions company, addressing important areas of national security related to cameras, optics and AI infrastructure,” Woodman stated in the announcement.

For outdoor enthusiasts and action sports creators, GoPro confirmed that its core consumer business is not disappearing. The company explicitly stated that it will continue supporting its current product lines, including HERO action cameras, 360-degree cameras, and its cloud subscription platform, while building a broader hardware roadmap.