AllGear Digital has announced a corporate rebranding and a name change. The news comes on the heels of a $40 million financing round led by Bardin Hill Investment Partners.
The Santa Monica-based media company was founded in 2018 as Lola Digital Media and owns and operates a network of media sites including GearJunkie, Switchback Travel, Bikerumor and others. As a whole, the company has an audience of more than 60 million readers.
In a release, Eric Phung, co-founder and chief executive, explained the initiative as a move toward establishing AllGear Digital as a leading publisher of gear reviews and content for active lifestyles and the outdoors.
“Our brands have a rich history of domain expertise, best-in-class content, and unbiased product reviews,” Phung said. “Millions of readers trust the AllGear Digital properties for daily news, trends coverage, and a sharp eye on the latest gear.”
The financing was raised for organic growth initiatives and to bring additional publishers onto the platform.
“This is an opportunity for our group to double-down and reach significant scale,” Phung said.
AllGear Digital sites include content on fitness, automotive, cycling, running, surfing, and the outdoors. The latest media acquisition include the surf-focused publication The Inertia, which was founded by Zach Weisberg, a local surfer and entrepreneur.
“Building The Inertia has been one of the most rewarding journeys I can imagine,” said Weisberg in a release. “Since day one, we’ve committed to forging great relationships, sharing valuable stories from unique perspectives in a culture we love, and challenging ourselves to embrace new opportunities. I’m so excited for this new chapter in our evolution.”
“I am thrilled to bring The Inertia into the AllGear Digital platform,” Phung said in a release. “The brand continues our momentum toward becoming a leading publisher in the outdoors and active-lifestyle space.”
Beyond editorial, an in-house brand studio facilitates custom content projects for brands. The company operates multiple podcasts and is adding to its video-production staff.
