by Joe James
What’s the story?
Pickleheads, a platform for pickleball players to help find courts, groups and organise games, has secured $2.5 million in seed funding.
The funding round has been led by Overline, an Atlanta-based venture capital firm, with participation from Ardent, Oregon Sports Angels, Profluence Capital, Service Provider Capital and Network Ventures, as well as over 65 angel investors, who are noted as pickleball lovers and brand advocates.
Pickleheads is endorsed by both USA Pickleball and the Global Pickleball Federation.
Max Ade, Pickleheads CEO and co-founder said: “It’s highly social, accessible to all ages, and a natural community-builder.
“That’s why we believe pickleball is destined to become the largest sport in the world.”
The platform has become the sport’s go-to court finder, but organisers can now set up games, collect payment, run round robins and recruit other local players.
In reference to the evolution of the platform, Ade said: “If you think about the evolution, it went from finding a place to play, to finding people to play with, to now find the right game at [your] right skill level.”
The investment marks Picklehead’s mission to become the powerhouse pickleball platform, with the sport being the fastest growing in the U.S. for three consecutive years.
Sean O’Brien, Overline managing partner, said: “Pickleheads is revolutionising the on-court experience for players, and we couldn’t be more excited to support their vision.
“We believe Pickleheads will become the go-to platform for pickleball players everywhere.”
The Recap
Pickleheads was founded in 2022 by Max Ade and Brandon Mackie after recognising the challenges pickleball players faced and created a platform that has in no time at all become the go-to digital resource, which is available as a website or app for connecting players and organising games.
The platform has over 354,000 registered users, growing 405% year by year and holds an extensive user base with nearly 9 million players having used Pickleheads to find courts and organise games.
Pickleheads are partnered with the Global Pickleball Federation as the official court finder. GPF, who collaborate with continental and national federations to create an organised, integrated international pickleball system are forming a world-class governing body hopefully culminating in pickleball participating in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane, Australia.
On the partnership, Mackie said: “Our mission has always been to help players find courts, discover games, and connect with other players.
“We want to get more people playing pickleball around the world, boost the sport’s popularity, and contribute to the drive to see pickleball at the Olympics.”
Pickleheads boasts the world’s most comprehensive database of pickleball courts, with over 18,600 courts across 110 countries.
The app is ranked number one in both IOS and Android App stores with over 3,600 ratings and a 4.9 out of 5 rating.
Pickleheads is working to address the issue that come with pickleball’s popularity, such as court shortages and the essential need for balanced, competitive games, no matter the skill level of players.
Being community-driven, the platform facilitates real-world connections and the growth of a community in line with their mission to get more people playing pickleball and help the sport grow globally.
The eye-watering $2.5m funding helps to further put Pickleheads’ plans into action.
The PKLBull Verdict
Pickleheads’ success is a testament to the growing popularity of pickleball and the increasing need for technology to support its expanding community.
The $2.5 million seed funding will enable Pickleheads to continue innovating and enhancing its platform, particularly with the goal of improving the on-court experience for players, which is all things considered, the most essential element of evolving the game.
The company’s move beyond just a court finder towards a more comprehensive and complete platform, with features like level-based play formats and payment processing tools, is a strategic step in meeting the needs for pickleball enthusiasts.
By partnering with organisations like the Global Pickleball Federation and USA Pickleball, Pickleheads is solidifying its position as a major player in the sport’s growth.
As pickleball continues to gain popularity, Pickleheads is in a prime position to capitalise on the growth, further expanding global reach and its impact on the community.
This funding round not only signifies a financial boost but also underscores the confidence investors have in not just the sport’s future, but Pickleheads’ vision and execution of kickstarting games across the globe.