WillowWood Global LLC (“WillowWood,” or the “Company”), a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of prosthetic products, today announced that it has acquired MAKstride Prosthetics (“MAKstride”). The highly complementary transaction represents WillowWood’s first strategic acquisition since partnering with growth-oriented private equity firm Blue Sea Capital LLC (“Blue Sea”) in December 2021.

Based in Mesa, Arizona, MAKstride develops, designs, and manufactures prosthetic devices and componentry, including prosthetic feet, foot shells, and high-precision machined components. Founded in 2006, MAKstride is noteworthy among prosthetic partners for its exceptional R&D function, precision machining capabilities, and manufacturing expertise across diverse metals, fiberglass, carbon fiber and plastics.

“The MAKstride acquisition marks the culmination of a multi-year, collaborative partnership with Monty and his team to co-develop cutting-edge innovation for the prosthetics industry, including the recent launch of our groundbreaking Meta Shock X product within the broader META foot platform,” said Daniel Rubin, COO of WillowWood. “We are excited and fortunate to have them as part of the WillowWood family.”

“As an aeronautical engineer and the son of a lower limb amputee, I founded MAKstride 16 years ago to apply my engineering expertise to my passion for prosthetics,” said Dr. Monty Moshier, Founder and CEO of MAKstride. “Since then, we have grown to become a world-class prosthetics partner serving amputees globally. We intentionally selected WillowWood as our preferred partner and, after many years of collaborative innovation, look forward to joining the organization.”

As a critical member of WillowWood’s leadership, Dr. Moshier will continue to lead MAKstride as Managing Director and will serve as a research fellow for WillowWood’s R&D efforts, including several upcoming META product launches.

“We partnered with WillowWood’s management to strategically transform the prosthetics industry, and the MAKstride acquisition represents an exciting start toward accomplishing that vision,” said Erin Lansky, Principal at Blue Sea Capital. “The deal underscores our excitement to acquire or partner with other prosthetic device manufacturers and their talented leaders who share our core value of securing great patient outcomes.”

McDermott Will & Emery provided legal counsel to the Company.

About WillowWood Global LLC
Based in Mount Sterling, Ohio, WillowWood Global (www.willowwood.com) is an industry leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of prosthetic products, including liners, feet, vacuum systems and components. Recognized for its products’ superior innovation, quality, and patient outcomes, WillowWood’s portfolio includes the Alpha® family of liners, the Koa LP™ and Meta™ families of high-activity feet, the LimbLogic® vacuum system, and the OMEGA® CAD system. For over 115 years, WillowWood’s prosthetic products have helped individuals with limb loss find comfort and functionality, remain active, and live life to the fullest.

About Blue Sea Capital LLC
Blue Sea Capital (www.blueseacapital.com) is a private equity firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida, that partners with growth-oriented, lower middle market companies and their entrepreneurial leadership teams. The firm has more than $750 million in assets under management and invests across three industry verticals: healthcare, industrial growth, and aerospace & defense. Blue Sea’s strategy is to partner, typically as the first or second institutional investor, with talented managers and differentiated companies to deliver strategic and operational value-add that drives growth acceleration, industry outperformance, and business transformation.

About MAKstride Prosthetics
Based in Mesa, Arizona, MAKstride is a family owned and operated leader in the development, design, and manufacturing of prosthetic products, including prosthetic feet, foot shells, and componentry. Founded by aeronautical engineer Monty Moshier, Ph.D., MAKstride has deep expertise in design, engineering, high-precision machining, and tooling of prosthetic products, robotics, and medical componentry. MAKstride is ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100 certified.

Media contact:
Erin Lansky, elansky@blueseacapital.com
561-655-8400 x 124