Raptor Consumer Partners, a consumer-focused growth equity firm, has partnered with obstacle racing series Spartan Race.
John Burns, managing director at Raptor Consumer Partners, will join Spartan Race’s board of directors.
In connection with RCP’s investment, Spartan Race will also work closely with Raptor Accelerator and Raptor Sports Properties, gaining access to their strong relationships and deep expertise in the sports industry.
The terms of RCP’s investment were not disclosed.
RCP’s investment in Spartan Race is the firm’s third investment in a rapidly expanding Boston-area market for growth stage companies. In 2012, RCP invested in a next generation food company, Unreal Brands, and women’s apparel brand Nic + Zoe.
“The sport of obstacle racing is experiencing unprecedented growth and we are thrilled to partner with Spartan Race, a leader in this dynamic market,” says Burns. “We look forward to working closely with Joe Desena, Spartan Race’s founder, to expand Spartan Race and to establish a corporate headquarters in the Boston metropolitan area. Spartan Race is our third investment in the Boston market and we are proud to support them in their mission to build the sport of obstacle racing.”
Founded in 2010, Spartan Race offers obstacle races for athletes seeking to break free from traditional physical activities and participate in grittier alternatives to triathlons and marathons. The series has become a lifestyle for hundreds of thousands of participants, with the average participant losing eight to 12 pounds after signing up for a Spartan Race. The organisation expects to register three times more racers in 2012 than in the previous year, with 36 events scheduled in 2012 in the US, Canada and the UK.
Desena says: “Raptor Consumer Partners and its Raptor affiliates will play an important role in developing our brand and giving us the ability to offer more races for more people looking to climb, crawl, jump and get dirty. Their support has been crucial in helping us extend our global reach, and I am pleased to report that we already have eight new countries lined up to host races. We are also very excited to bring Spartan Race to the Boston community and to celebrate Fenway’s 100th anniversary with the inaugural obstacle race in the celebrated home of the Boston Red Sox.”
