Curtis Smith

Chief Product Development Officer, UPP

Biography:

Curtis Smith is the Founder of Paddletek and a pioneering force in the evolution of modern pickleball equipment. Since helping transform the company from a small startup into one of the sport’s leading performance paddle brands, Curtis has remained focused on a simple mission: pushing innovation forward while staying true to the players and communities that built the game. 

Curtis joined his brother Cody Smith in 2012 after seeing firsthand the growing passion surrounding pickleball and the opportunity to rethink paddle performance through innovation and craftsmanship. Under Curtis’ leadership, Paddletek quickly emerged as one of the fastest-growing paddle manufacturers in the sport, introducing technologies and engineering advancements that helped redefine performance expectations across the industry. Today, Paddletek paddles are used by players of all skill levels, including many of the sport’s top professional athletes.  

Known for his relentless focus on quality, Curtis has long championed U.S.-based manufacturing and hands-on product development, believing that meaningful innovation comes from understanding both the physics of performance and the needs of players. His approach has helped establish Paddletek as one of the most trusted and respected brands in pickleball, with more than one million paddles sold and a reputation for durability, customer service, and player-first design.  

In recent years, Curtis has helped guide the next chapter of the brand through the formation of The Paddletek Group, bringing together Paddletek, ProXR, Padeltek, and Yobow to accelerate innovation and support the continued growth of pickleball and padel globally.  

A passionate advocate for the sport and its future, Curtis is known for combining entrepreneurial grit with a player-first mindset. Whether collaborating with elite athletes on next-generation paddle technology or supporting grassroots growth within the game, he remains committed to helping players elevate their performance—and have more fun doing it.