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GoPro Founder Loans Company $20 Million Amid Financial Crisis

economy-finance · 2026-07-13

Nicholas Woodman, the founder and CEO of GoPro, is injecting $20 million into the beleaguered camera manufacturer via senior secured notes and warrants for Class B common stock. The firm had previously indicated "substantial doubt" regarding its ongoing viability, attributing this to a sharp decline in revenue and bleak expectations for its new Mission 1 series cameras, hampered by memory shortages and rising component costs. In May 2026, GoPro revealed it was contemplating a sale, restructuring, or merger, following a workforce reduction of over 20% in April. The stock price plummeted from nearly $90 in 2014 to $0.76 at the time of the report. Woodman mentioned that an independent board committee assessed financing alternatives and found this approach most advantageous, highlighting his optimism for GoPro's future.

Key facts

  • Nicholas Woodman is lending GoPro $20 million via senior secured notes and warrants.
  • GoPro previously expressed 'substantial doubt' about its future viability.
  • The company cited a significant drop in revenue and poor prospects for Mission 1 cameras.
  • GoPro announced on May 11, 2026, that it was considering selling the company or restructuring.
  • GoPro laid off over 20% of its workforce in April 2026.
  • GoPro's stock price fell from nearly $90 in 2014 to $0.76.
  • The financing was structured through entities affiliated with Woodman.
  • An independent committee of the board evaluated financing options.

Entities

Institutions

  • GoPro
  • Digital Camera World
  • United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
  • PetaPixel

Locations

  • California
  • United States
  • North America

Sources