Eastside Golf has really taken off!
The lifestyle golf brand was founded in 2019 by Olajuwon Ajanaku and Earl Coope. The company recently closed a $3.4 million seed round led by EP Golf Ventures, a partnership between the PGA of America and Elysian Park Ventures. Now, the multi-million dollar investment can help them continue to grow at a faster rate.
If you look at past metrics, Eastside Golf has no choice but to succeed. The golf lifestyle company saw a 600% year-over-year growth in the past two years and has increased its employees from two to 16. Its revenue has reportedly increased from $100,000 in its first year to $4 million in 2023, according to Shoppe Black.
“Our goal in creating Eastside Golf is to show people that you can be yourself and you don’t need to look a certain way to play the game,” Cooper said in a news release. “The future of the game exists outside of the golf industry. We’ve been able to tap into the culture to change the perception of the sport and grow the game for future generations. As a PGA of America Golf Professional, I’m especially honored to have the support of EP Golf Ventures as we enter into our next chapter.”
Ajanaku added, “Our logo is not what you’d expect from a traditional apparel line rooted in golf — a Black man wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and gold rope chain, swinging a club. And that’s the goal. We want to inspire confidence but also promote authenticity by showing that everyone can enjoy the game of golf, no matter who you are.”
Eastside Golf has attracted celebrity fans who have helped the apparel line succeed. With the new funding, Eastside Golf is planning to launch new product lines, which will include wholesale and women’s apparel. The company also has a goal of doubling the number of pop-up events in major markets and will host its second-annual Eastside Golf Invitational during New York Fashion Week. Ajanaku and Coope also want to open brick-and-mortar locations and expand internationally.
Cover photo: Eastside Gold/Photo credit: Eastside Golf Instagram