Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
Barcode, a Los Angeles, California-based maker of a fitness drink for hydration, has received an undisclosed investment from Victor Wembanyama, the number 1 overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft in the United States.
Barcode recently underwent a valuation of $30 million and has expanded its retail availability to include HEB, Krogers, Safeway/Albertsons, Buc-Cee’s and 7-Eleven, mainly in the Texas market.
Additional funding has been secured from co-founder Kyle Kuzma, 10-time NBA All-Star and entrepreneur Carmelo Anthony, who will join Barcode as a Board Advisor, world-renowned boxer Gervonta Davis, Derek Fisher, Jordan Clarkson, Chelsea Gray, Jae’sean Tate, Isaiah Hartenstein, Wayne Ellington and Lexie Brown.
Wembanyama, nicknamed Wemby, a 19-year-old French, 7′ 3 ½”, has taken an equity investment in the company.
Wembanyama will help share Barcode’s fundamental values, as well as participate in their philanthropic initiatives.
The French athlete will also be involved with research and development on future products and will appear as the face of the brand in digital, out-of-home and in-store advertising.
Born January 4, 2004, Wembanyama grew up in Le Chesnay, France and was raised by two professional athletes; his mother, Elodie, was a former professional basketball player in France and his father, Felix, was a triple jumper.
Wembanyama has won silver medals as a member of the French National U-16 Team at the European Championship as well as with the U-19 Team at the World Championships.
Last season, he played for the Levallois Metropolitans 92 and led his team to their first-ever appearance in the French League Finals.
Developed by Mubarak “Bar” Malik, former New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers Director of Performance and NBA Champion, philanthropist and entrepreneur Kyle Kuzma, Barcode offers a plant-based, all-natural performance drink with added benefits and ingredients, including Vitamin D, B6, B12, magnesium and ashwagandha and no added sugar.
The product is currently available at Amazon, Erewhon Market, ShopRite, Bristol Farms, Gelsons, and Central Market in the US.
