Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Esayian.
Hi Nick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Nick’s path to LIGHT started in 2015 at the Long Beach Grand Prix, where he met Bill Simpson, the racing safety pioneer who co-founded SG Helmets. Simpson believed football helmets had become too heavy and the industry too slow to change. In 2018, after Nick assembled a group of investors, he acquired SG and rebranded it LIGHT Helmets. From there, he rebuilt the product line around a simple idea — make helmets lighter and higher-performing — and went to work earning trust from youth programs up to the NFL.
Today, LIGHT reflects that mission and the team behind it. The company is driven by NFL athletes, Navy SEALs, engineers, doctors, and entrepreneurs who care about protecting the game and the people who play it. Our helmets are up to 40 percent lighter and are trusted by all 32 NFL teams and more than 100 NCAA programs. We also formalized a medical advisory board — neurologists, neurosurgeons, trauma physicians, former NFL doctors, and physical therapists — which is uncommon in our space and keeps product decisions grounded in athlete health. Alongside athlete investors like Cam Jordan, Tyrod Taylor, and Tony Romo, and business leaders including the Smith family and John Sarkisian, Nick has pushed for better materials, better fit, and better outcomes on the field.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road. We are the youngest and smallest of the major U.S. helmet makers and we entered a category with very large incumbents, high switching costs, and entrenched buying habits. Procurement cycles are long, standards are complex, and access to athletes and programs is often shaped by legacy relationships. Our view is simple. Helmets became heavier over time and that extra mass increases fatigue and impact energy on the field. We set out to make lighter, high-performing helmets that protect players and improve how they feel in the fourth quarter.
The hardest part has been earning our way onto the field amid that inertia. We focused on independent results, physician input, and direct feedback from coaches and players. The traction we have today comes from proving performance, not promises. Competition should raise the bar in this category. We are here to help do that and to give athletes and teams a real choice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about LIGHT Helmets?
LIGHT Helmets designs lightweight, high-performance football helmets that help athletes stay on the field longer. Our focus is simple – preserve the sport and protect the people who play it.
We are known for lighter helmets that perform at the top of independent testing. Our Apache line is up to 40% lighter than legacy models and has earned top Virginia Tech ratings. Our helmets are trusted by all 32 NFL teams and more than 100 NCAA programs. We back the work with 11 patents and a formal medical advisory board of neurologists, neurosurgeons, trauma physicians, former NFL doctors, and physical therapists.
What sets us apart is our obsession with weight, fit, and real-world performance. Less mass means less fatigue and better control late in the game. We pair advanced materials and 3D-printed structures with athlete and physician input, then prove it on the field.
Brand wise, we are most proud of earning trust the hard way. Independent results. Pro feedback. Parents who tell us their kids love wearing the helmet. That is the win.
If readers remember one thing, make it this. LIGHT delivers elite protection without the extra weight.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy is what football does for people. A huddle brings together kids from every background and gives them the same jersey, the same goal, and the same standard. The sport teaches grit, discipline, accountability, and how to get up after you get knocked down. When I see that in youth programs, I see life lessons that last far beyond the field.
If we can help more kids experience that and make it safer while they do, that is a win. Seeing a player finish the game, shake hands, go home healthy, and come back the next week with more confidence is why we do this. If LIGHT can protect the game and the people who play it, I am happy.
Pricing:
- Competitive pricing
- Volume and multi-year pricing available
- Flat-rate, transparent reconditioning pricing with no hidden fees
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lighthelmets.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lighthelmets/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLightHelmets/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-helmets
- Twitter: https://x.com/TheLightHelmets
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lighthelmets
