Action camera maker GoPro is set to join forces with Starman Optical in a $285 million merger that could reshape the company's next chapter. Under the agreement, GoPro shareholders would receive $1.14 per share and retain about 10% of the combined business.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year and would also remove GoPro's $92 million debt burden. The company says the move is designed to strengthen its balance sheet, support growth, and expand its reach across consumer, commercial, and defense-focused markets.
Starman Optical describes itself as an optical-photonics company working on transceivers and related technologies through its Starman New Photonics unit. The broader Starman Holdings portfolio also includes consumer tech brands such as Incase, Incipio, and Griffin.
GoPro, which went public in 2014, built its reputation on action cameras but later explored drones and 360-degree devices before returning to a narrower product strategy. The company now says it will continue supporting its core products while investing in a broader roadmap and U.S.-based manufacturing for strategic markets.
For GoPro, the deal marks a new phase centered on imaging, optics, and advanced hardware. If executed well, the merger could help position the brand for a more diversified future in connected technology and high-performance visual systems.
