deeproot

deeproot Pinball was founded in 2017 in San Antonio, Texas, by attorney and entrepreneur Robert J. Mueller as part of the broader “deeproot” family of companies, including deeproot Funds and deeproot Tech. Mueller’s vision was to build a revolutionary pinball enterprise by bringing together high-profile industry designers—most notably John Popadiuk, known for both his celebrated 1990s designs and subsequent failed boutique projects. Although deeproot Pinball initially generated significant interest and excitement among enthusiasts, it quickly became linked to the funds fueling it; investor money from deeproot Funds was allegedly diverted to support the pinball operation.

​

The firm promised unprecedented innovation, including a “PinBar” touchscreen built into the lockbar of its first table, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland (often shortened to RAZA), as well as advanced aesthetics designed by a seasoned team of pinball veterans. Despite unveiling prototypes and opening pre-orders in late 2020, the company failed to complete mass production or deliver finished games to customers. In August 2021, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit against Mueller, alleging that he operated a Ponzi-like scheme that misappropriated over $30 million in investor funds. As legal action intensified, deeproot Pinball shut down in 2021, leaving only a handful of prototype machines. Its assets were later liquidated in bankruptcy proceedings, marking the end of the venture and cementing deeproot Pinball’s place in industry history as an ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful pinball startup.