# From Chicago streets to pickleball startup

> Stanley Anderson built a career at HP and Intel. Now he's CEO of Costa Pickleball, betting on quieter paddles and identity-driven design.
- Title: From Chicago streets to pickleball startup | Shortify
- Summary: Stanley Anderson built a career at HP and Intel. Now he's CEO of Costa Pickleball, betting on quieter paddles and identity-driven design. Stanley Anderson…
- Keywords: stanley anderson, costa pickleball, las vegas, startup, paddles, mit, technology, science, Chicago, streets, pickleball, MIT Technology Review
- Source: MIT Technology Review — https://technologyreview.com/2026/10/20/1145287/taking-a-swing-at-a-pickleball-startup
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: stanley anderson, costa pickleball, las vegas, startup, paddles, mit, technology, science
## From survival to Silicon Valley
Stanley Anderson grew up in Chicago facing gang violence and death. He survived, built a career at HP, Intel and Palo Alto Research Center, and now leads Costa Pickleball.

> I spent my early years trying not to get recruited into gangs, getting shot at, watching my friends get murdered, and thinking that if I don't leave, I will die.
## Pickleball paddles with identity
Costa Pickleball, based in Las Vegas, sells high-performance paddles in decorative designs. CEO Anderson wants customers to bring their identity to the court while developing quieter paddles for competitive advantage.

> bring their identity to the court
## Effort conquers any challenge
Anderson credits MIT with teaching him that effort can overcome any obstacle. He is applying that lesson to succeed in today's competitive pickleball market.

> There's nothing you can't accomplish if you are willing to put effort into it.
## Key takeaway

Stanley Anderson, MIT graduate and former HP and Intel executive, is leading Costa Pickleball with technology-driven paddles and decorative designs.