GoPro

Nick Woodman founded the company in 2002 after struggling to capture his own surfing sessions with bulky equipment. Originally named Woodman Labs, Inc., the startup operated out of San Mateo, California, before evolving into GoPro. The brand went public on the Nasdaq in 2014 under the ticker symbol $GPRO, marking a shift from a niche hobbyist tool to a global consumer electronics player.

The company manufactures rugged, waterproof cameras designed for extreme environments. Its flagship HERO series includes the HERO13 Black and the recently introduced Mission 1 Pro ILS, which features interchangeable lenses and serves as the firm's first cinema-grade camera. Beyond hardware, GoPro provides mobile apps and cloud storage services like Quik to help users edit and share footage instantly.

Marketing relies heavily on user-generated content and partnerships with professional athletes. The "Be a Hero" campaign encourages creators to document their adventures, fostering a loyal community that drives organic reach. In late August 2026, the company saw a significant stock surge of 22% after YouTube star Markiplier became its largest shareholder. [edit]