Inception Designs

What Inception Designs does

Inception Designs is a privately held, USA-based manufacturer of aftermarket performance upgrades and custom-built paintball markers, headquartered in Sewell, New Jersey. Founded in 2013 by Simon Stevens, a mechanical engineer and former VP of Engineering, R&D at KEE Action Sports/Empire, the company operates with a 1-10 employee footprint and produces proprietary components that complement Planet Eclipse marker platforms including the EMEK, Etha 2, Etha 3, Etha 3M, EMF100, EMF200, and CS3. Its product portfolio spans proprietary triggers (FANG), lever-based air system adapters (EZ ASA, EZ PZ ASA), modular barrel systems (Stella with PWR inserts), complete air systems (ELEV-8), and a wide range of custom-machined aluminum body kits (FLE, Ripper, Dragon Scale, TACTICOOL, Scout) in multiple anodized finishes, alongside autococker/pump parts, maintenance supplies, and soft goods. Manufacturing, assembly, and testing are conducted in-house at the New Jersey facility.

The company's commercial model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce (BigCommerce storefront) supplemented by a wholesale dealer network and community-driven marketing across PBNation, proprietary forums, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and a blog. Revenue streams are entirely transactional (one-time product sales plus digital gift certificates) with no subscription or recurring-contract layer, and price points range from sub-$10 springs and o-rings to $1,749.95 premium custom marker builds. The customer base is split between individual paintball players (primary) and authorized dealer shops (secondary), with the entire paintball aftermarket serving as the addressable market. The firm holds 11 patents from its founder dating back to industry-shaping innovations including the first true force-feed paintball loading system (US6109252) and the first pressure-relieving cylinder valve (US7231912).

Strategically, Inception Designs competes on founder expertise, proprietary mechanical IP, customization depth, and USA-made positioning rather than scale or technology platform breadth. There are no external funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no AI or software product lines; growth is driven by incremental product launches (body kit colorways, new platform support such as EMF200, vertical extensions like the ELEV-8 Air System) within a niche, mature hobby category. The company distributes internationally through its website but does not offer free shipping outside the US, suggesting international sales are opportunistic rather than a funded push.

Name

Inception Designs

Legal name

Inception Designs

Website

https://inceptiondesigns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Inception Designs is a privately held, New Jersey-based manufacturer founded in 2013 by Simon Stevens that designs and sells proprietary aftermarket upgrades (triggers, ASAs, barrel systems, custom-machined body kits) and fully loaded custom builds for Planet Eclipse paintball markers, serving individual players and authorized dealers through direct-to-consumer e-commerce and a wholesale network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paintball Equipment

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Outdoor Accessories Manufacturing (Performance Gloves/Headwear) (IMAOAFAI)

Keywords

• Paintball markers
• Barrel systems
• Marker upgrades
• Paintball accessories
• Custom paintball guns

Headquarters

HQ city

Sewell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Paintball Markers Sales: Direct sales of complete paintball markers including Planet Eclipse brand and custom Inception-built markers with body kits, triggers, and accessories
2. Parts and Upgrades: Sales of performance upgrades including body kits, triggers, barrels, air systems, and autococker/pump parts
3. Maintenance and Accessories: Sales of maintenance supplies (oils, sealants, o-rings), tools, and soft goods (cases, towels, apparel)
4. Gift Certificates: Digital gift certificates sold to customers for use on future purchases

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Inception Designs designs, manufactures, and sells custom paintball marker upgrades, body kits, barrel systems, triggers, and air system components. The company specializes in proprietary performance upgrades for Planet Eclipse markers (EMEK, Etha 2, Etha 3, Etha 3M, EMF100, EMF200, CS3), along with fully-loaded custom marker builds, autococker/pump parts, and maintenance supplies. All products are designed, assembled, and tested in the USA.

Product overview

Inception Designs is a paintball equipment company specializing in custom performance upgrades and fully-loaded marker builds, founded in 2013 by industry veteran Simon Stevens. The company operates as a product portfolio built around proprietary upgrades for Planet Eclipse markers (EMEK, Etha 2, Etha 3, Etha 3M, EMF100, EMF200, CS3) alongside its own branded components. The core product lines include: (1) Paintball Markers - both stock Planet Eclipse platforms and Inception's own ID100, sold as base units or fully-loaded custom builds; (2) Proprietary Body Kits - the FLE (Fantastically Light Engineering), RIPPER, Dragon Scale, TACTICOOL, and Scout series offering custom-machined aluminum bodies with various anodized finishes; (3) Stella Barrel System - a modular barrel platform featuring PWR inserts and interchangeable components including the Workhorse, Spiral Slimline, and Genesis variants; (4) Performance Triggers & Accessories - the FANG Trigger system, Secret Pin, various ASA (Air System Adapter) products including EZ ASA and EZ PZ ASA; (5) Air Systems - the ELEV-8 air system and regulators, pressure testers, and tank accessories; (6) Autococker & Pump Parts - comprehensive internal and external components for classic pump and autococker markers; (7) Maintenance Products - oils, greases, thread lockers, O-rings, tools; (8) Soft Goods & Cases - branded apparel, protective cases, and foam inserts. All products are designed, assembled, and tested in the USA at their New Jersey facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EMEK Paintball Marker
• ETHA 3 Paintball Marker
• ETHA 3M Paintball Marker
• EMF100 Paintball Marker
• EMF200 Paintball Marker
• CS3 Paintball Marker
• ID100 Marker Fully Loaded
• FLE Body Kits
• RIPPER Body Kits
• Dragon Scale Body Kits
• TACTICOOL Body Kit
• Scout Body Kit
• Stella Barrel System
• FANG Trigger
• EZ PZ ASA
• ELEV-8 Air System
• Autococker & Pump Parts
• Maintenance Products
• Gift Cards

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ninja Paintball: Ninja Paintball is a leading manufacturer of paintball air systems including regulators and compressed air tanks. They compete directly with Inception's ELEV-8 Air System and regulator products in the same performance-focused air system category for serious players.
• Virtue Paintball: Virtue Paintball designs and sells aftermarket upgrades for paintball markers, including triggers, boards, and accessories, very similar to Inception's upgrade product lines. They serve the same enthusiast customer seeking performance enhancements and customization for major marker platforms.
• HK Army: HK Army is a paintball accessories and apparel brand that competes directly in the upgrade and customization segment. Both companies target competitive and recreational players seeking performance add-ons, premium aesthetics, and lifestyle branding, with overlapping product categories including gloves and soft goods.
• Planet Eclipse: Planet Eclipse is the primary OEM whose markers (EMEK, Etha series, CS3, 180R) form the platform base for nearly all of Inception Designs' upgrades. They sell complete markers directly, which Inception also resells alongside its proprietary add-ons, making them simultaneously a supplier, channel partner, and partial competitor in the same product category.
• Critical Paintball: Critical Paintball manufactures and sells paintball accessories and tools, including maintenance products, parts, and upgrade components. They overlap with Inception's maintenance products, parts, and accessory categories, serving the same core customer base of players maintaining and upgrading their equipment.

Broad incumbents

• DLX Luxe: DLX Technologies manufactures the Luxe line of premium high-end paintball markers, operating in the same high-performance tournament segment where Inception's fully loaded custom builds compete. Both target the top tier of competitive players willing to pay premium prices for performance.
• MacDev Paintball: MacDev is an established Australian-based paintball marker manufacturer producing high-end tournament markers and accessories. They compete with Inception in the premium marker segment and serve similar competitive player demographics globally.
• Empire Paintball (KEE Action Sports): Empire Paintball, now part of KEE Action Sports, is one of the largest paintball equipment manufacturers and was Simon Stevens' former employer before founding Inception Designs. They produce a wide range of markers, loaders, masks, and paint, serving as a broad incumbent that competes across most categories Inception addresses.
• Dye Precision: Dye Precision is one of the largest established paintball marker and equipment manufacturers globally, producing markers, masks, loaders, and apparel. They compete with Inception in the broader paintball equipment category and offer their own proprietary upgrades and accessories, though at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Tadao Technologies: Tadao Technologies specializes in aftermarket electronics and trigger upgrades for paintball markers, a niche closely related to Inception's FANG Trigger and performance accessory lines. Both companies serve technically sophisticated players seeking to optimize marker performance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inceptiondes
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/InceptionDes
• Facebookfacebook.com/InceptionDes
• LinkedIninstagram.com/inceptiondesigns
• Instagraminstagram.com/inceptiondesigns

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Inception Designs