Certor
Certor is a U.S. holding company for protective sports equipment brands (VICIS, Schutt, Tucci) that designs and manufactures football helmets and protective gear for athletes ranging from youth to professional levels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPlainfield, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Certor does
Certor Sports, LLC is the U.S. parent company of a portfolio of protective sports equipment brands — VICIS, Schutt, and Tucci — that design, manufacture, and market helmets and protective gear primarily for football athletes, with growing reach into non-helmeted sports. The company operates a state-of-the-art headquarters and production facility in Plainfield, Indiana, and a dedicated Research, Design, and Innovation (RDI) office in Seattle, Washington, where advanced product concepts are designed, developed, and tested. Notable product platforms include the VICIS ZERO2 TRENCH, a position-specific football helmet designed for offensive and defensive linemen and a Fast Company Innovation by Design finalist, and the LOOP Multi-Sport Headgear (co-developed with Guardian Sports), a Virginia Tech 5-STAR-rated product for non-helmeted sports.
The company makes money primarily through direct hardware sales of helmets and protective equipment via its brand-specific websites and through B2B channels serving athletic programs, schools, and professional sports organizations. Its go-to-market relies on a multi-brand portfolio structure, earned media coverage in sports publications (ESPN, CBS Sports, Fast Company), and institutional partnerships — most notably its February 2026 appointment as the Official Corporate Champion of the NFHS, and a June 2026 co-branded helmet donation initiative with the Green Bay Packers and Ticketmaster. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. In October 2025, Harrison Co. advised Certor on a recapitalization with MidCap Financial to fund strategic growth and innovation across the portfolio. The company is privately held, employs 251–500 people, and is actively hiring.
Certor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Certor
- Legal name
- Certor Sports, LLC
- Website
- https://certorsports.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Certor is a U.S. holding company for protective sports equipment brands (VICIS, Schutt, Tucci) that designs and manufactures football helmets and protective gear for athletes ranging from youth to professional levels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Certor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Protective Sports Equipment
- NAICS
- Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (339920), Sporting Goods Retailers (45911)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protective Armor & Impact Protection Retail (Body/Back/Chest) (CRAMANAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Team Sports Protective Gear & Sports Medicine Retail (CRAMAEAJ), American Football Equipment Retail (CRAMAEAD)
Keywords
Where Certor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plainfield
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Certor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Protective Sports Equipment Sales: Sale of helmets and protective sports equipment under brand portfolio including VICIS, Schutt, and Tucci
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Certor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Certor designs, develops, and manufactures protective sports equipment — primarily football helmets and multi-sport headgear — through its family of brands (VICIS, Schutt, TUCCI). Products are engineered at its Seattle-based Research, Design, and Innovation center and produced at its Plainfield, Indiana headquarters, serving athletes from youth competitors to professional players.
Product overview
Certor is a holding company for a family of sports equipment brands focused on protective gear and athletic performance. The portfolio includes VICIS (advanced helmets including the ZERO2 TRENCH position-specific helmet), Schutt (protective equipment including the LOOP multi-sport headgear), and Tucci. Certor consolidates technology, innovation, design, and sport expertise across these brands to develop protective sports equipment from professional to youth levels.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VICIS: Protective football helmets and sports equipment manufacturer known for advanced helmet technology.
- Schutt
- TUCCI
Products and services
- VICIS ZERO2 TRENCH Helmet Position-specific football helmet designed to provide enhanced protection for offensive and defensive linemen, the first helmet engineered specifically for that playing position. Targeted at professional and competitive football programs.
- LOOP Multi-Sport Headgear Multi-sport headgear designed for non-helmeted sports, offering enhanced protection, comfort, and style. Carries a Virginia Tech 5-STAR safety rating. Developed through a partnership between Schutt (a Certor brand) and Guardian Sports.
Quantifiable outcome
- Virginia Tech 5-STAR rating for LOOP Multi-Sport Headgear
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Certor
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Certor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Certor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- Green Bay PackersminorCertor Sports partnered with the Green Bay Packers and Ticketmaster to fund the Packers Helmet Give Back Program, donating $7,500 worth of helmets to 10 Wisconsin high school football programs.
- TicketmasterminorPartnered with Green Bay Packers and Certor Sports to fund the Packers Helmet Give Back Program helmet donation initiative.
- NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations)flagshipCertor Sports was named the Official Corporate Champion of the NFHS, reflecting its commitment to athlete safety and innovation in protective sports equipment. The partnership involves collaboration on safety initiatives for high school athletes across the United States.
- Guardian SportscoreGuardian Sports and Schutt (Certor brand) teamed up to launch the next generation of the LOOP multi-sport headgear, featuring enhanced protection, comfort, and style. The product received a Virginia Tech 5-STAR rating.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Certor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Riddell: Riddell is the incumbent leader in football helmets and protective equipment, supplying NFL, NCAA, and the majority of U.S. high school programs. Direct head-to-head competitor to Certor's VICIS and Schutt brands across football helmet categories.
- Xenith: Xenith is a football helmet manufacturer that built its brand on adaptive impact protection technology and competes directly with VICIS in the premium football helmet segment. Comparable in target market (youth to collegiate football programs) and Virginia Tech safety rating positioning.
- Battle Sports Science: Battle Sports Science manufactures protective mouthguards and football accessories used at the collegiate and high school level. Comparable as a football-protective-gear specialist selling into the same athletic program channels as Certor.
Emerging players
- SG Helmets: SG Helmets (formerly Under Armour / GForm–adjacent) is an emerging football helmet manufacturer focused on protective headgear for scholastic and youth markets. Competes in the same Virginia Tech-rated football helmet category as Certor's brands.
- Markwort Sporting Goods: Markwort manufactures baseball, softball, and team-sports protective equipment with a heritage dealer network. Comparable as a smaller protective sports equipment maker selling into scholastic channels that overlap with Certor's high school customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Bauer Hockey: Bauer is the dominant manufacturer of protective hockey equipment (helmets, shoulder pads, gloves) at competitive levels. Comparable as a category-leading protective sports equipment manufacturer with similar manufacturing model, dealer network, and team-sport go-to-market motion.
- Rawlings Sporting Goods: Rawlings is an established manufacturer of baseball, softball, and team-sports protective equipment including batting helmets. Comparable as a long-standing protective sports equipment maker serving scholastic and competitive baseball/softball channels that overlap with Certor's football school channels.
- Wilson Sporting Goods: Wilson is a major team-sports equipment manufacturer (footballs, basketballs, volleyballs) and owns the EvoShield protective brand, competing in football protective gear. Comparable as a broader sports equipment incumbent expanding into the protective segment Certor leads.
- BRG Sports: BRG Sports is the holding company that owns multiple sports equipment and helmet brands (EvoShield, Giro, Bell). Directly comparable as a multi-brand holding company for protective sports equipment with overlapping customer base in team and action sports.
- Easton (Easton-Bell Sports): Easton is a multi-sport equipment manufacturer with historic strength in baseball, softball, and hockey protective gear. Comparable as an established sports equipment brand that has competed in football protective categories and shares Certor's team-sport dealer channels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Certor social profiles
Digital presenceCertor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Certor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Certor subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Certor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Certor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Certor
What does Certor do?
Certor designs, develops, and manufactures protective sports equipment — primarily football helmets and multi-sport headgear — through its family of brands (VICIS, Schutt, TUCCI). Products are engineered at its Seattle-based Research, Design, and Innovation center and produced at its Plainfield, Indiana headquarters, serving athletes from youth competitors to professional players.
Is Certor a public or private company?
Certor is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Certor founded?
Certor was founded in -1. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Certor based?
Certor is headquartered in Plainfield, United States, in the North America region.
How does Certor make money?
One revenue line is on record: protective Sports Equipment Sales.
Who are Certor's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Riddell, Xenith and Battle Sports Science. Emerging players are SG Helmets and Markwort Sporting Goods. Broad incumbents are Bauer Hockey, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Wilson Sporting Goods, BRG Sports and Easton (Easton-Bell Sports).
Does Certor have an API?
No public API is recorded for Certor.
What industry is Certor in?
Certor's product category is Protective Sports Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMANAC, Protective Armor & Impact Protection Retail (Body/Back/Chest), with a secondary code of CRAMAEAJ, Team Sports Protective Gear & Sports Medicine Retail. Its NAICS code is 33992 and its SIC code is 3949.