TeamLinkt has secured $8.3 million CAD in Series A funding to expand its sports administration platform across North America, bringing artificial intelligence capabilities to youth and amateur sports organizations struggling with outdated management tools.
The Saskatoon-based startup raised $6 million USD from San Francisco’s Growth Street Partners, marking the investment firm’s first Canadian deal. The funding brings TeamLinkt’s total capital raised to $9.7 million CAD since launching its mobile application in 2018.
Free Platform Powers Rapid Growth
TeamLinkt operates on a freemium model that sets it apart from competitors like SportsEngine and TeamSnap. The platform generates revenue through credit card processing fees and in-app advertising rather than charging organizations subscription fees. This approach has helped the company attract more than 3,000 organizations and three million users globally.
The software handles player registration, scheduling, team communications, and website management for sports ranging from hockey and soccer to martial arts and dance. With over 500,000 monthly active users, TeamLinkt serves everyone from large provincial governing bodies to small community leagues.
AI Assistant Reduces Administrative Burden
The company recently launched Emi, an AI assistant that automates the creation of registration forms, schedules, rosters, and communications. TeamLinkt plans to use the new funding to enhance these AI capabilities alongside digital fundraising tools and payment automation features.
“The funding supports product development, go-to-market efforts, and key hires” said founder and CEO Jay Maharaj. The company aims to expand its 17-person workforce to more than 50 employees over the next three to five years, focusing on product development and growth roles.
Pivot from Real Estate Technology
Maharaj and his team previously built ClientLinkt, which created custom smartphone apps for real estate professionals. The founders identified a larger opportunity in youth sports administration after experiencing firsthand the challenges of managing teams with outdated tools.
The company rolled out its comprehensive back-office management platform in 2020 to address what Maharaj describes as volunteers and staff struggling with old processes while managing tight budgets. TeamLinkt has processed hundreds of millions in payments to date through its integrated payment system.
Vision for Sports Operating System
Growth Street Partners co-founders Steve Wolfe and Nate Grossman joined TeamLinkt’s board as part of the investment. Their firm typically backs North American software-as-a-service companies generating $1 million to $5 million in annual recurring revenue.
“Our vision is to become the first true operating system for youth and amateur sports. We want every organization—regardless of size or budget—to have access to powerful, easy-to-use technology” ~ Jay Maharaj, founder and CEO.
The funding will accelerate TeamLinkt’s expansion across North America while the company continues developing AI tools designed to let organizations run professional-level operations without requiring technical expertise. TeamLinkt expects artificial intelligence to play a major role in simplifying sports administration for organizations of all sizes.