Key Takeaways
- Prep Network partners with Maple Park Capital Partners to scale its platform of eight media brands covering youth and high school sports across multiple sports
- The company publishes 4,000 articles monthly through a network of more than 400 writers and hosts over 350 events annually
- Partnership enables expansion into new regions, deeper subscription content, and accelerated product innovation across its platform
- Co-founders Jake Phillips and Nick Carroll will continue leading as CEO and Chief Growth Officer
- Maple Park focuses on experiential economy businesses, including multi-unit operations, franchisors, and youth enrichment companies
Prep Network, a Minnesota-based prep sports platform covering content, events, and collegiate recruitment, has formed a strategic partnership with private investment firm Maple Park Capital Partners to support platform expansion and product development.
The Minneapolis company, founded in 2012 by Jake Phillips and Nick Carroll, operates eight media brands serving youth and high school sports. Its portfolio includes Prep Network, Prep Hoops, Prep Redzone, Prep Girls Hoops, Prep Dig, Prep Soccer, Prep Softball, and Prep Lacrosse.
Platform Scale and Content Production
Prep Network’s editorial operation includes more than 400 writers producing 4,000 articles each month. The company hosts more than 100 tournaments and nearly 250 showcases annually, totaling over 350 events across the United States.
Phillips and Carroll, both former collegiate athletes, started the company to address what they identified as gaps in high school sports coverage and access. “What started as a shared passion between two friends and coaches has grown into a national platform that helps athletes create lifelong memories through sports,” Phillips said in the announcement.
The company positions itself as serving athletes across all competitive levels, not just Division I prospects. This approach differentiates its coverage from traditional sports media that typically focuses on top-tier recruits.
Partnership Structure and Growth Plans
Under the partnership, Maple Park Capital Partners will support three main growth areas: expanding events into new geographic markets, enhancing subscription content across the company’s media brands, and developing new product features for athletes, families, and coaches.
Phillips and Carroll will remain in their leadership roles, with Phillips serving as CEO and Carroll as Chief Growth Officer. The financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
“In Maple Park, we’ve found an ideal partner to support us in this growth as we further our commitment to closing the gap in coverage between Division I athletes and small school prospects,” Phillips said.
Investor Background and Focus
Maple Park Capital Partners, based in Dallas and New York, invests in North American service businesses within the experiential economy. The firm’s focus areas include multi-unit businesses, franchisors and franchisees, location-based entertainment, youth enrichment, travel and hospitality, and business services.
Co-founders and Managing Partners Alexander Blankfein and Andrew Lauck emphasized the founders’ background as a key factor in the partnership decision. “Jake and Nick embody the type of founders we look to partner with: passionate and mission-driven entrepreneurs who have built a business that serves a wide and growing market,” they said.
The firm highlighted the co-founders’ progression from competing as athletes, to coaching, to launching Prep Network as evidence of their firsthand market knowledge.
Strategic Position in Youth Sports Market
Prep Network operates in a youth sports market that continues to see investment activity and consolidation. The company’s multi-sport approach and focus on content plus events creates a two-sided platform connecting athletes with recruitment opportunities while serving families seeking sports information and competition access.
Carroll noted the company’s vision extends beyond traditional top-tier coverage: “We believe that student-athletes at every level can and should have access to the first-rate experiences and coverage that have been previously reserved for only a few.”
The partnership positions Prep Network to expand both its geographic reach and its service offerings as demand for youth sports content and competitive opportunities continues across the country.
via: Business Wire
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