When 17-year-old high schooler named Andreas Katsaounis sat down to dinner with his family one night, he didn’t realize a casual conversation about Christmas gifts would change the course of his life.
“My mom got my dad a new paddle for Christmas,” he recalls. “And my dad looked at it and said, ‘Why would you buy such an expensive paddle?’” That moment sparked a question that wouldn’t let go: Why are pickleball paddles so expensive, and is there a way to make high-quality gear more affordable?
That question launched Alpha Omega Pickleball, a company Andreas started before he was even old enough to vote. Now a college student at the University of Nebraska and member of the school’s club pickleball team, Andreas’ mission is simple. He wants to make premium paddles accessible to more players without sacrificing performance or style.
It started with a personal dilemma. “I wanted a new paddle, something better,” he says. “But when I looked online, the paddles people were using were $200, $300. At 17, I didn’t want to spend that kind of money. So I thought, maybe there’s a way to fix this.”
Despite being new to the business world, Andreas dove in. He began researching materials, testing paddle shapes and cores, and talking with manufacturers. “I didn’t know anything about entrepreneurship at the time,” he admits. “My dad’s an entrepreneur, so he’s helped teach me a lot. And once I got to college, I got involved with the Center for Entrepreneurship at UNL.”
Andreas designed his first three paddles himself, graphics and all, using skills he picked up in high school art class. “My logo, I drew that myself too,” he says. “I did that just to save money.” For newer designs, he’s been able to bring on a professional designer, but his hands-on approach hasn’t changed. Every paddle is the result of his own product testing and research.
Building a business at a young age hasn’t been without challenges. “Marketing has definitely been one of the hardest parts,” Andreas says. “You have to come up with constant content, be consistent, and if you don’t know videography or graphic design, it can get expensive fast.” But he’s learning and adapting every day.
Even with his growing company, Andreas hasn’t let go of his love for playing. He competed in the Collegiate Pickleball Nationals in Dallas earlier this year, which is just the second tournament he’s ever played. “It was the best competition I’ve ever played with. And I did pretty well, considering,” he says. “I want to start competing more, even in events I sponsor.”
He’s also a local tournament sponsor, often setting up a booth to sell his paddles and talk with players. “Usually I don’t play because I’m working the booth,” he says with a laugh. “But I think I’m ready to start doing both.”
From testing prototypes to promoting paddles at events, Andreas is proving that passion, curiosity, and a willingness to learn can go a long way, especially when you’re building something bigger than yourself. “I just want to make great paddles that more people can afford,” he says. “That’s what Alpha Omega is all about.”