In a significant development for the youth sports industry, LeagueApps, a leading youth sports management platform, has announced a major equity investment from Accel-KKR, a renowned technology-focused investment firm. This strategic partnership is set to transform the landscape of youth and local sports organization management, providing enhanced tools and resources for clubs, tournaments, leagues, camps, and facilities.
LeagueApps: Powering the Future of Youth Sports
Founded in 2010, LeagueApps has established itself as a cornerstone in the youth sports ecosystem. The platform currently supports:
- Thousands of youth and local sports organizations
- Eight different team sports
- Programs by professional leagues and teams
- Millions of events management
- Billions of dollars in sports programming transactions
- Engagement of millions of players, parents, and coaches
The Impact of Accel-KKR’s Investment
The injection of capital from Accel-KKR is expected to accelerate LeagueApps’ mission of creating exceptional sports experiences for all. Brian Litvack, LeagueApps’ CEO & Co-Founder, emphasizes the evolving nature of the youth sports industry and the company’s commitment to providing innovative solutions, technology, and data to youth sports communities.
Jeremy Goldberg, LeagueApps’ President & Co-Founder, outlines the company’s plans to:
- Expand capabilities across more dimensions of youth sports management
- Enhance the experience of coaches, parents, and participants
- Improve web and mobile technology offerings
- Develop strategic partnerships
A Shared Vision for Youth Sports
The partnership between LeagueApps and Accel-KKR is rooted in a shared commitment to innovation and success. Dean Jacobson, Managing Director at Accel-KKR, expressed admiration for LeagueApps’ pivotal role in the youth sports ecosystem and their vision for integrating technology to scale and simplify operations while building community.
Additional Investment and Continued Support
In addition to Accel-KKR’s investment, Arctos Partners, a private investment firm focusing on the sports industry, will make a minority investment in LeagueApps. This move further solidifies LeagueApps’ position in the sports technology sector.
Existing investors, including Contour Venture Partners and funds managed by Hamilton Lane, will continue their involvement. The company also boasts support from notable sports figures such as Julie Foudy, Shane Battier, Swin Cash, Dhani Jones, and Derrick Dockery.
LeagueApps’ Commitment to Industry Leadership
LeagueApps continues to demonstrate its dedication to advancing the youth sports industry through various initiatives:
- Leading NextUp, the premier industry conference for youth sports leaders
- Co-founding and chairing the PLAY Sports Coalition
- Participating in the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative
- Joining the 63×30 Roundtable to increase U.S. youth sports participation
FundPlay Foundation: Expanding Access to Youth Sports
LeagueApps’ impact extends beyond technology. The company’s FundPlay initiative has evolved into the FundPlay Foundation, a 501c3 public charity aimed at supporting sports-based youth development organizations in underserved communities. To date, the foundation has:
- Provided grants to over 200 youth sports organizations
- Enabled more than 275,000 youth sports opportunities in underserved areas
- Set a goal to facilitate another 500,000 unique sports experiences over the next three years
As LeagueApps embarks on this new chapter with Accel-KKR, the future of youth sports management looks brighter than ever. With enhanced resources and a continued commitment to innovation, LeagueApps is poised to make an even greater impact on the lives of young athletes and the communities they serve.
About Accel-KKR
Accel-KKR is a technology-focused investment firm with $19 billion in cumulative capital commitments. The firm focuses on software and tech-enabled businesses, well-positioned for top-line and bottom-line growth. At the core of Accel-KKR’s investment strategy is a commitment to developing strong partnerships with the management teams of its portfolio companies and a focus on building value alongside management by leveraging the significant resources available through the Accel-KKR network. Accel-KKR focuses on middle-market companies and provides a broad range of capital solutions, including buyout capital, minority-growth investments, and credit alternatives. Accel-KKR also invests across various transaction types, including private company recapitalizations, divisional carve-outs and going-private transactions. Accel-KKR’s headquarters is in Menlo Park, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, London, and Mexico City. Visit accel-kkr.com to learn more.
About Arctos
Arctos is a private investment firm that provides bespoke growth capital and liquidity solutions, differentiated thought partnership, and value creation advice to sports franchises (Arctos Sports) and alternative asset managers, their funds, and portfolio companies (Arctos Keystone). Founded in 2019, Arctos serves as a catalyst for innovation and business transformation for its portfolio companies and its markets. The firm’s proprietary approach is anchored by its unique quantitative research and data science platform, Arctos Insights. Arctos has a team of more than 50 investment and operational professionals with investment and operating expertise across industries, geographies, and economic cycles. The firm is headquartered in Dallas, with office locations in New York, and London. For more information, visit www.arctospartners.com or Arctos’ company page on LinkedIn.
About LeagueApps
LeagueApps is the leading youth sports management platform. Powering thousands of leading organizations from teams, clubs, and camps to professional leagues, LeagueApps is on a mission to bring the benefits of sport to kids everywhere. Through its software and NextUp platform, which provides organizers with opportunities for leadership development and networking, LeagueApps supports and strengthens the youth sports industry. It also runs FundPlay, a philanthropic program focused on sports-based youth development programs in underserved communities, and is a founding member of the PLAY Sports Coalition.
via: PR Newswire
photo: Business Wire
