For Ron Saslow, transitioning from the medical industry to sports investments wasn’t a planned career change. But when a compelling offer came to sell his family’s medical device company in 2019, it opened a new chapter for the businessman, sparking a deep dive into the thriving world of pickleball. Having led HuFriedy, a family-run dental instrument company, for 30 years, Saslow found himself at a crossroads. His three sons showed little interest in continuing the business, so he sold it to Cantel Medical for an impressive $775 million.
After selling HuFriedy, Saslow quickly realized he was far from ready to retire. Sports and music, his lifelong passions, became the focus of his new venture. Joined by two of his sons, Saslow founded Thirty-5 Capital, a family-run investment firm. The company focuses on early-stage investments in sports-related businesses, especially in pickleball, where Saslow has invested in numerous companies. Today, Thirty-5 Capital owns stakes in Chicago Slice, a Major League Pickleball team, along with several paddle-making brands and player rating platforms. His background in manufacturing and business expansion has allowed Saslow to support these companies in scaling up and reaching broader markets.
Saslow’s involvement in sports ownership isn’t entirely new; he previously invested in the Chicago Cubs. Now, with Thirty-5 Capital, he’s leveraging his business acumen to guide sports companies in achieving growth and global reach. His firm is selective, targeting companies with over $1 million in revenue and strong customer loyalty, and aims for impactful investments rather than passive support. Though Thirty-5 Capital doesn’t seek external funding, it collaborates with select partners for certain ventures, including the Chicago Slice, where investors like Tom Ricketts, Heidi Klum, Chris Evert, and David Justice are involved.
Since the pandemic, Saslow and his family have embraced pickleball both as players and investors. Recognizing the sport’s rapid growth from niche to mainstream, they saw an opportunity to deepen their investments, even creating the first pickleball-specific footwear through a partnership with the shoe brand Sqairz. Saslow believes that as interest in pickleball continues to rise, the market for specialized gear will expand. With products like ProXR, known for its unique grips, Thirty-5 Capital hopes to shape the pickleball experience with customized equipment designed specifically for the sport.
Looking ahead, Saslow sees the potential for pickleball’s international growth, particularly in regions like China, Vietnam, and Australia, where enthusiasm is spreading rapidly. To further diversify, Thirty-5 Capital is also investing in padel, a fast-growing racquet sport popular in Europe, positioning the firm to lead in both the U.S. and global sports markets. Saslow finds this new chapter incredibly fulfilling, not only for the business opportunities but also for the chance to build a new family legacy that blends passion with professional expertise.