Rudy Project
Italian manufacturer of high-performance sports eyewear and helmets (est. 1985), also using LPBF metal AM for limited-edition titanium frames such as the Performance 40 anniversary collection.
- CEO / Founder
- Cristiano Barbazza
- Team Size
- 51-200
- Stage
- Established
- Total Funding
- Bootstrapped
- Latest Round
- Bootstrapped
- Key Investors
- Family-Owned (Barbazza Family)
Technology & Products
Key Products
High-end sports eyewear and helmets, including limited-edition 3D printed titanium frames.
Technological Advantage
Leverages Laser Powder Bed Fusion to eliminate the need for expensive tooling and molds, allowing for rapid iteration of complex designs and the use of biocompatible Grade 5 titanium for superior durability and skin comfort.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Combines four decades of Italian sports eyewear/helmet design with advanced optics and materials—including LPBF 3D-printed titanium lattice frames—to deliver ultra-lightweight, high-performance gear for endurance athletes.
How They Differentiate
Utilizes aerospace-grade Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) 3D printing to create hollow, lattice-based titanium frames that are structurally impossible via traditional CNC machining, achieving extreme lightness (36g) while maintaining high-performance sports durability.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Luxury eyewear collectors, professional athletes (cyclists, triathletes), and tech-forward consumers seeking high-performance wearable art.
Industry Verticals
Luxury Goods, Sports Equipment, Additive Manufacturing, Optics/Eyewear
Competitors
Oakley, Smith Optics
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Estimated annual revenue of $25M - $50M; global distribution network spanning over 60 countries.
Major Milestones
1985: Company founded by Rudy Barbazza in Treviso, Italy, 2025: Launch of Performance 40 limited-edition 3D-printed titanium eyewear for 40th anniversary, 2026-02: Acquired 100% ownership of North American distributor; NA becomes wholly owned subsidiary
Notable Customers
Team Bahrain Victorious; USA Triathlon / pro triathletes; UTMB World Series athletes; Winter Olympic medalists using Rudy Project eyewear/helmets; Performance 40 collectors