SYZMIK Sports

What SYZMIK Sports does

SYZMIK Sports, LLC is a Hunt Valley, Maryland-based designer and seller of protective sports equipment, with consumer operations dating to the 2022 launch of the SYZMIK brand (the parent entity has been operating in sports head-health R&D since 2015). The company's X-Series product line includes the X7C non-tackle football headband, the X7 soft-shell helmet, and the X11 soccer headband, all built on a proprietary Xf1 Performance Foam co-polymer adapted from automotive and military applications and assembled with ultrasonic welding. Mouth protection is delivered through the X0 lip guard (featuring a wind-tunnel design that increases airflow by up to 20%) and the X1 mouth guard. A 2025 sub-brand, SYZ3, extends the company into sustainable apparel (organic Supima cotton, Fair Trade facility), with up to 10% of proceeds donated to the Brain Research Foundation.

Underlying the product line is the CAVEMAN virtual brain scan simulation, co-developed with Corvid Technologies using real MRI scans of NCAA Division 1 athletes to model brain strain with and without protective headgear; the X7 shows up to 78% less brain strain and the X7C/X11 show up to 33% less brain strain in head-to-head collisions. The company holds a Virginia Tech 5-star safety rating for the X7C 2.0, won the 2018 NFL Head Health Tech Challenge for its ARK ONE concept, and has Johns Hopkins University as a shareholder. Products are worn by athletes from 17+ national teams at the 2024 World Championships.

SYZMIK generates revenue through a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront (syzmiksports.com, shipping to 180+ countries), a dedicated team sales channel for bulk orders and customization, and three regional distribution partnerships covering Mexico (Rayo Negro), Canada (Ottawa Women's Football), and Europe (Flag Football Online). Pricing is one-time across the catalog — headgear $57–$97, mouthguards $16–$23, SYZ3 apparel $22–$67 — with team and bundle discounts available. The customer base is primarily flag football, 7v7, and soccer athletes, plus teams, leagues, and conscious-consumer apparel buyers. The team of roughly 7–10 includes executives with backgrounds at Under Armour, Garmin, VICIS, Xenith, Biocore, and the NFL.

Name

SYZMIK Sports

Legal name

SYZMIK Sports, LLC

Website

https://syzmiksports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SYZMIK Sports designs and sells protective headgear, mouthguards, and sustainable apparel for flag football, 7v7, and soccer athletes via direct e-commerce and international distributors, using proprietary Xf1 Performance Foam and CAVEMAN brain-strain simulation validated by Virginia Tech's 5-star rating.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Athletic Protective Equipment

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Team Sports Protective Gear & Sports Medicine Retail (CRAMAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Safety Accessories & Wearables Retail (Neck Braces, Hydration, Earplugs) (CRAMANAL)

Keywords

• Protective sports headgear
• Flag football helmets
• Mouth guards
• Soft shell helmets
• Athletic apparel

Headquarters

HQ city

Hunt Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Consumer direct purchases through the company's Shopify e-commerce storefront. Products include headgear (X7C, X7, X11), mouthguards (X0, X1), apparel (SYZ3 collection), accessories (water bottles), and eGift cards.
2. Team Sales: Bulk orders for teams and leagues with special pricing, customization options including decals, and direct inquiry through team sales form.
3. International Distribution: Products sold through international partners in Mexico, Canada, and Europe who stock and sell X7C and X0 products regionally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SYZMIK Sports designs, manufactures and sells protective sports headgear and mouthguards, anchored by the X-Series (X7C non-tackle football headband, X7 soft-shell helmet, X11 soccer performance headband) and X-Series mouthguards (X0 lip guard, X1 mouth guard). It also sells SYZ3 sustainable apparel (hoodies and tees) and accessories such as a sideline water bottle. Products are sold direct-to-consumer online and through team sales and international distributors.

Product overview

SYZMIK Sports offers a portfolio of protective sports equipment centered on the X-Series product line, including headgear (X7C and X7 protective headbands/helmets for flag football and 7v7, X11 soccer headband), mouthguards (X0 lip guard and X1 mouth guard), and the SYZ3 sustainable apparel sub-brand. The company specializes in soft-shell protective headgear using proprietary Xf1 Performance Foam technology, with products designed to reduce brain strain during sports activities. All products undergo Virginia Tech helmet rating testing and brain scan simulations via Corvid Technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SYZ3: Luxury sustainable athletic apparel line featuring hoodies and t-shirts made from organic Supima cotton, Fair Trade Certified facility, with up to 10% of proceeds donated to Brain Research Foundation. Stealth branding with minimal logos.

Products and services

• X7C Non-Tackle Football Headband Protective headband for Flag Football and 7v7 football designed to reduce brain strain from incidental head impacts, featuring Xf1 Performance Foam and ultrasonic welding construction with no stitching.
• X7C 2.0 Non-Tackle Football Headband Updated flagship protective headband for Flag Football and 7v7 with 20% lighter Weightless Feel design, elevated 5-star Virginia Tech rating, and ultrasonic welding construction; available in sizes S, M, L.
• X7 Soft Shell Football Helmet Flagship soft-shell helmet for 7v7 football, non-helmeted practice, and flag football, providing impact protection through Xf1 Performance Foam without a hard plastic shell.
• X11 Soccer Performance Headband Low-profile protective headband designed specifically for soccer to reduce brain strain from heading the ball and on-field collisions, with up to 33% less brain strain in simulations at 20, 40, and 60 mph.
• X0 Lip Guard Patented lip guard with wind tunnel design that increases airflow up to 20%, impact dampening shield, dental-grade hypoallergenic BPA-free materials, no-boiling OSFM fit.
• X1 Mouth Guard Mouth guard providing performance blend of comfort and safety, made in the USA with high-quality manufacturing.
• SYZ3 Stealth Hoodie Sustainable luxury hoodie made from 400gsm heavyweight organic cotton with brushed interior, stealth minimalist branding, produced in windmill-powered Fair Trade Certified facility; up to 10% of proceeds donated to Brain Research Foundation.
• SYZ3 Stealth Tee Premium t-shirt made from 6 oz American Grown SUPIMA cotton with Extra Long Staple fiber for softness, sheen and durability, produced in a Fair Trade Certified facility, with stealth branding.
• SYZMIK Hydro Sideline Water Bottle (24 oz) 24 oz sideline water bottle for athletes, available as a single unit or 6-pack.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 78% less brain strain when athletes wear X7 during head-to-head collisions
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Corvid TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration with Corvid Technologies to develop CAVEMAN virtual brain scan simulations. The CAVEMAN model was originally developed for the U.S. Marine Corps for injury assessment from underbody blast events. SYZMIK utilizes these simulations during product design and development to predict outcomes of head impacts on human anatomy.
• Virginia TechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSYZMIK products consistently receive top ratings in Virginia Tech's helmet and headgear safety rankings. SYZMIK utilizes VT STAR Impact Testing Method for simulation validation.
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Design LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRPI Design Lab provides mentorship and guidance for students working on SYZMIK design and development projects, offering academic collaboration.
• University of Saint MaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAIA Field Studies partnership where university provided SYZMIK researchers with team video for quantifying head impacts in collegiate women's flag football using methods similar to NFL research.
• International Federation of American Football (IFAF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFAF provided SYZMIK researchers with game video access to quantify head impacts in Professional Flag Football, evaluating head impact exposure between male and female professional athletes.
• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOCSAE-funded pilot study conducted by CHOP to evaluate effectiveness of SYZMIK Flag Football headgear. Athletes wear SYZMIK headgear while participating in Flag Football Life tournaments with head impacts recorded using instrumented mouthguards.
• Nate Dau PhD (Research Lead)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Nate Dau PhD, the research team conducts industry-leading field research studies to understand risks athletes experience in different sports and competition levels.
• Brain Research FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSYZ3 apparel collection donates up to 10% of every purchase to the Brain Research Foundation, a non-profit established in 1953 to promote and support scientific research concerning the brain.
• Rayo Negro (Mexico)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner in Mexico for X7C and X0 products. Products available at rayonegro.mx.
• Ottawa Women's Football (Canada)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian distribution partner for X7C and X0 products. Products available through ottawawomensfootball.ca.
• Flag Football Online (Europe)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean distribution partner for X7C and X0 products. Products available through flagfootball.online.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EvoShield: EvoShield produces protective sports gear including mouthguards, wrist guards, and protective shirts using proprietary gel-to-shell technology. Comparable to SYZMIK as both target athletes with custom-molding protective equipment across multiple sports.
• Shock Doctor: Shock Doctor is a leading brand in sports mouthguards and protective gear, directly comparable to SYZMIK's X0 and X1 mouthguards. Both target athletes needing oral/facial protection across multiple sports with a focus on performance and comfort.
• VICIS: VICIS makes advanced football helmets using proprietary impact-absorbing technology, including the #1-rated ZERO1 helmet. Highly comparable to SYZMIK because both target football head protection with innovative materials and have leadership overlap (Rod Trafford worked at VICIS).
• Xenith: Xenith produces football helmets with proprietary shock absorber technology and is a direct competitor in the protective football equipment market. Multiple SYZMIK executives previously worked at Xenith, indicating direct domain overlap in product and customer base.
• Battle Sports Science: Battle produces mouthguards and football protective accessories including lip guards and chin straps. Comparable to SYZMIK's X0 lip guard and X1 mouthguard offerings, with overlap in football-specific protective equipment.

Broad incumbents

• Under Armour: Under Armour is a major athletic apparel and footwear brand; SYZMIK COO Chris Perra previously developed 100+ products there. While a broad incumbent, Under Armour's head protection line and SYZ3's apparel positioning create adjacency, particularly in athletic performance categories.
• Riddell: Riddell is the largest football helmet manufacturer in the US with deep NFL, NCAA, and high school distribution. While focused on traditional tackle football helmets, Riddell's brand and channel relationships represent a significant competitive threat if it expands into flag football protection.
• Schutt Sports: Schutt is a major incumbent in football protective equipment including helmets, shoulder pads, and face guards. SYZMIK's West Coast Sales Rep previously worked at Schutt. While Schutt focuses on tackle football, its scale and distribution make it a credible competitor if it enters the non-tackle category.

Emerging players

• Sisu Sports: Sisu makes next-generation mouthguards emphasizing thin, comfortable fit with impact protection. Comparable to SYZMIK's mouthguard line with similar positioning around comfort and athletic performance, though Sisu uses a different material technology.
• Guardian Cap: Guardian Cap makes soft-shell helmet covers and protective headgear used primarily in football practice. Comparable to SYZMIK's soft-shell protective headgear philosophy, both addressing head impact reduction through padded outer layers rather than rigid shells.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@syzmikheadgear
• Facebookfacebook.com/SYZMIKHeadGear
• Instagraminstagram.com/syzmikheadgear
• Xx.com/SYZMIKHeadGear
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/syzmiksports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 SYZMIK Sports