Aktivate, a leading provider of scholastic sports management software, has successfully concluded a Series A funding round, securing $3.7 million. The investment was led by Will Ventures, Tal Ventures, and Benson Oak Ventures, with participation from 97212 and Tieferes Ventures. With this latest funding, Aktivate’s total funding to date exceeds $14 million since its establishment in 2020. The company, currently collaborating with six of the largest school districts in the nation, aims to expand its reach by 200-300% in the coming year and utilize the funds to enhance its existing capabilities through new in-app integrations.
Over the past decade, the youth sports industry has experienced significant growth, with an estimated annual value of $30 to $40 billion. However, many schools still struggle to secure adequate funding for their athletic departments and often rely on annual fundraisers. In addition to its core registration, scheduling, and communication features, Aktivate offers an integrated digital fundraising tool. This tool enables directors to efficiently manage donor information, donation goals, and statuses, empowering them to maximize their fundraising efforts. By harnessing the power of online crowdfunding, Aktivate users have been able to expand their reach and secure substantially more funds compared to traditional in-person initiatives, with significantly less effort. Collectively, Aktivate’s fundraising platform has helped raise over $35 million.
Brian Reilly, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Will Ventures, stated, “Aktivate’s fundraising solution represents the digital evolution of the traditional school bake sale. By addressing the limitations of in-person fundraising, such as limited reach and inconsistent follow-up, Aktivate surpasses expectations and delivers exceptional outcomes. This is invaluable to athletic directors responsible for financing programs that serve hundreds, potentially thousands, of children.”
Aktivate offers a centralized platform tailored to the unique needs and responsibilities of athletic directors in school districts across the United States. One of the major challenges these directors face is the management and monitoring of multiple timelines and processes. Aktivate streamlines essential tasks, including pre/post-season registration, scheduling, and communication, into one comprehensive platform. By reducing the likelihood of errors and noncompliance, Aktivate enables directors and coaches to spend less time on paperwork, fundraising, and logistics, and more time directly engaging with students.
Jon Miller, Chairman of Aktivate and former CEO of AOL, remarked, “Aktivate has been designed to be the Swiss army knife for every scholastic sports community. In various industries, organizations are leveraging new technology to enhance organization and minimize errors, and the field of academics and education should not be left behind. We take pride in offering our solutions at a fraction of the cost compared to competitors, accelerating access to modern technology for all.”
Aktivate’s CEO, Hesky Kutscher, added, “We are the athletic director’s best friend, equipping them with the tools to build strong communities through scholastic sports. With this funding, we plan to further scale our platform to cater to the needs of sports departments in districts nationwide and deliver exceptional value to our users.”
In 2022, Aktivate achieved substantial growth, experiencing approximately 250% revenue growth year over year. In 2023, Aktivate surpassed one million active users on its platform and established partnerships with prominent entities such as United Healthcare and NCSA College Recruiting (owned by Endeavor). With a potential user base exceeding 50 million across the United States, Aktivate aims to grow by an additional 200-300% in the next year. The company plans to introduce new products and services throughout the year and into the first quarter of 2024.
