What Sharpstar does

Sharpstar is a privately held Canadian manufacturer, headquartered in Quebec City, that designs and builds professional ice skate sharpening machines, tools, and accessories for the hockey and ice skating markets. Founded by Benoît Cyr — a fabricator with 30 years of experience in custom stainless steel equipment manufacturing and an amateur hockey player — the company produces three core machine models: the flagship Sharpstar Comet 2.0 (3-station, $16,375 CAD), the Meteor 2-station machine ($7,485 CAD), and a portable travel model ($3,485 CAD). Its differentiator is the proprietary PRS (Perfect Radius System), an exclusive mechanical adjustment mechanism that keeps the machine aligned with the grinding wheel axis regardless of wheel thickness variations, and the exclusive Canadian distribution of Swiss-made Sarubin grinding wheels.

The business model is direct-to-consumer hardware sales through a bilingual (French/English) e-commerce storefront, supplemented by a third-party financing arrangement with Affiliated Financial Services Inc. that lowers the purchase friction for high-ticket machines. Revenue streams split between machine sales (one-time, perpetual license pricing) and a broader consumables/accessories catalog — including skate holders (SS2, SS2K for children, SS3), dust collection components, polishing compounds (Starstick, Starglide, Starsleek), diamond pointers (SAR-15, SAR-25), deburring stones, wheel nuts, and replacement parts. All machines carry a 3-year parts and labor warranty.

The primary customer segments are professional ice hockey rinks and sports facilities (the dominant segment) and individual hockey players or traveling teams (secondary, addressed by the portable model and consumer-grade accessories). The company is founder-owned, employs 1–10 people, has not raised external funding, and operates with no disclosed revenue or formal distribution network beyond its own website, which ships domestically and internationally for non-hazardous items.

Name

Sharpstar

Legal name

Sharpstar inc.

Website

https://sharpstar.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sharpstar is a privately held Quebec-based manufacturer of professional ice skate sharpening machines, including its flagship Comet 2.0 with the proprietary PRS system, serving professional hockey rinks and individual players through direct e-commerce sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ice Skate Sharpening Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE)

Keywords

• Skate sharpening machines
• Ice hockey equipment
• Grinding wheels
• Skate maintenance accessories
• Professional skating equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Vanier

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Skate Sharpening Machines: Sale of professional-grade skate sharpening machines including the Comet 2.0 (flagship 3-station model), Meteor 2-station model, and portable travel model. Machines are sold with 3-year warranties and include accessories like skate holders, spare wheels, and diamonds.
2. Accessories and Consumables: Sale of skate holders (SS2, SS2K, SS3), dust bins, filters, blade straighteners, polishing compounds (Starstick, Starsleek, Starglide), wheel nuts, and other maintenance accessories.
3. Sarubin Grinding Wheels and Accessories: Distribution of Swiss Sarubin grinding wheels (8-inch, 5-3/4-inch, 6-inch sizes) and accessories including diamonds (standard and premium) and deburring stones.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Sharpstar manufactures and sells professional ice skate sharpening machines (Comet 2.0 3-station, Meteor 2-station, and a portable travel model) along with a full ecosystem of accessories including Swiss Sarubin grinding wheels, skate holders (SS2/SS2K/SS3), diamond pointers, dust collection systems, and polishing compounds. The machines feature the proprietary PRS (Perfect Radius System) for precise blade-to-wheel axis alignment. All machines are built in Quebec, Canada, carry a 3-year parts and labor warranty, and are sold directly through the company's e-commerce website with optional financing.

Product overview

Sharpstar manufactures professional ice skate sharpening machines and related accessories. The product line centers on three main machine models: the Comet 2.0 (flagship 3-station machine with exclusive PRS Perfect Radius System for precise sharpening), the Meteor Model (2-station machine), and the Portable/Travel Model (compact machine with carrying case). All machines feature Swiss-made Sarubin grinding wheels. The accessory portfolio includes skate holders (SS2, SS2K for children's skates, SS3), grinding wheels in various sizes and grits, diamond pointers (SAR-15 and SAR-25), blade maintenance products (Starstick, Starglide, Starsleek), dust collection components, and replacement parts. The company offers a 3-year parts and labor warranty on all machines and sells directly through their Quebec-based operation with financing options available through Affiliated Financial Services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sharpstar Comet 2.0 (3-station machine) Professional 3-station ice skate sharpening machine with PRS (Perfect Radius System), 2 finishing stations and 1 cross grind station. 14-gauge steel cabinet, CHT100 worktable, TEFC motors, 115V or 230V single phase. Includes 4 spare wheels, dust bin, and 2 diamonds. Designed for professional ice rinks and high-volume sharpening operations.
• Meteor Model 2-Station Machine 2-station ice skate sharpening machine with 1 finishing station and 1 belt drive cross grinding station. 3/4" thick steel top, 115V or 230V operation. Includes SS2 skate holder, 2 wheels, and 1 diamond. Suited for smaller rinks and serious individual users.
• Portable Machine (Travel Model) Portable ice skate sharpening machine with carrying case on wheels and retractable handle. 8" wheel, 1/3 HP motor at 3450 rpm, aluminum top with hard anodizing. 90 lbs. Includes SS2 skate holder, 2 wheels, and 1 diamond. Designed for traveling teams and individual players.
• Sarubin Grinding Wheels Swiss-made grinding wheels for ice skate sharpening in multiple sizes (8", 5-3/4", 6") and grits (blue, ruby, pink, orange, grey, yellow, white). Distributed exclusively by Sharpstar in the North American market.
• SS2 Skate Holder (2-point adjustable) 2-point adjustable skate holder for securing skates during sharpening, available in green, red, and white colors. Sold separately as an upgrade or replacement accessory.
• SS2K Skate Holder (for children's skates) Universal skate holder designed for small/children's skates with 9" opening. Designed for youth and figure skates.
• SS3 Skate Holder (3-point adjustable) 3-point adjustable skate holder providing enhanced stability for sharpening operations. Sold separately as a premium stability accessory.
• Main Dust Filter Replacement dust filter for Sharpstar Comet machines, designed for easy replacement after extended use.
• Dust Bin Universal stainless steel dust collection bin (10" wide x 6" deep x 11" high) for collecting sharpening debris.
• Blade Straightener (Redresseur de lame) Anodized aluminum blade straightener for skate blades. Can be mounted on the machine or used independently.
• Blade Squareness Checker (Gage d'équerrage) Inspection tool for verifying blade squareness during sharpening operations.
• Blower 1/2 HP motor blower for dust removal and debris clearing during sharpening operations.
• Diamond Pointers (SAR-15 Standard, SAR-25 Premium) Diamond-tipped sharpening and finishing tools. SAR-15 is standard quality; SAR-25 is premium quality. Used for wheel dressing and precision finishing.
• Starstick Polishing sticks for finishing passes. Package of 4 sticks, 4.5" long x 5/8" diameter.
• Starglide Anti-friction conditioning compound for final blade pass. 66ml bottle with 3 replacement tips for mirror finishing.
• Starsleek Lubricant for table maintenance and better glide of skate holders. 450ml bottle. Protects steel work surface from rust. Local pickup only due to aerosol classification.
• Sealed Switch German-made sealed safety switch for machine power control. Available in green, red, and white colors.
• Deburring Stone (medium) Medium grit deburring stone for edge preparation and finishing.
• Wheel Nuts (Left/Right screwing) Aluminum wheel nuts for securing grinding wheels. Available in left-screwing and right-screwing variants.
• Stainless Steel Washer for Wheel Nut Stainless steel washer for wheel nut assembly, 8" diameter.
• Holding Bars (Standard and Ultra Robust) Holding bars for grinding wheel changes. Available in standard and ultra robust variants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-year warranty on all machines covering parts and labor

Named customers2 records

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 indicators2 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ProSharp: ProSharp is a Swedish manufacturer of professional skate sharpening machines (e.g., the ProSharp AS-1) and grinding wheels, serving hockey rinks and pro facilities worldwide. It is Sharpstar's most direct competitor with overlapping product positioning and a comparable premium-international brand profile.
• Blademaster: Blademaster is a long-established North American manufacturer of ice skate sharpening equipment (e.g., Blademaster 1 and Blademaster Elite) with a broad installed base across North American rinks. It competes directly with Sharpstar for the same professional rink customer and is one of the most recognized brands in the segment.

Emerging players

• Sparx Hockey: Sparx Hockey manufactures a consumer-grade automated skate sharpener (the Sparx Sharpener) used by individual players and small teams. While positioned at the lower end of the market versus Sharpstar's pro rinks, it represents an emerging technology approach to skate sharpening that could disrupt traditional pro machines over time.

Broad incumbents

• Bauer Hockey: Bauer is one of the largest hockey equipment manufacturers globally, selling skates, sticks, protective gear, and accessories. While not a direct competitor in skate sharpening machines, Bauer influences the broader hockey equipment ecosystem and could enter the sharpening equipment category given its scale and channel relationships.
• CCM Hockey: CCM is a major hockey equipment manufacturer producing skates, sticks, and protective equipment. Like Bauer, it is not a direct competitor in sharpening machines but is a broad incumbent in the hockey equipment category with potential adjacency into sharpening equipment.

Others

• Sarubin AG: Sarubin is a Swiss manufacturer of precision grinding wheels for which Sharpstar acts as a Canadian distributor. It is a supplier partner to Sharpstar rather than a competitor, and represents the upstream component supplier that anchors Sharpstar's consumables business and product quality positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharpstarcanada

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 Sharpstar