The youth sports club software market is consolidating fast. Sprocket just took growth capital without giving up control.
Sprocket Sports, a Chicago-based club management software company, closed a Series A round from Frontier Growth, a Charlotte-based growth equity firm that specializes in vertical SaaS. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but Frontier typically invests $5 to $30 million in companies with $3 to $20 million in annual recurring revenue.
The deal is notable less for its size and more for what it represents: Sprocket is now the only modern, independent player in the youth sports club software space that remains founder-led and founder-controlled.
What Sprocket Does
Launched in 2020, Sprocket Sports offers an all-in-one platform for youth sports clubs. The product covers player registration, payments, websites, communication tools, admin dashboards, and a mobile app. The pitch is consolidation: replace the patchwork of disconnected tools most clubs use with a single integrated system.
CEO Rich Gallun described the company's approach as helping clubs "thrive, not just survive" in an increasingly competitive landscape. The platform is paired with a hands-on support team, which the company positions as a differentiator against larger, less responsive competitors.
Why This Deal Matters
The youth sports club software market has seen significant consolidation over the past two years. PlayMetrics merged with Stack Sports in 2025. LeagueApps, SportsEngine, and other platforms have been acquired or rolled into larger portfolios. The pattern is familiar: private equity enters a fragmented vertical SaaS category, rolls up competitors, and consolidates market share.
Sprocket took a different path. Frontier Growth's investment is minority capital, meaning the founders retain control. Gallun was explicit about why that mattered: he wanted a partner who would act as "invited house guests" rather than "controlling financial owners."
For founders watching the youth sports tech space, this is a proof point that alternatives to full buyouts exist. Growth capital without giving up the steering wheel is still possible, at least for companies with strong fundamentals and leverage in the process.
The Playbook
Frontier Growth's involvement signals something broader. The firm has completed more than 25 investments in industry-specific software companies since 1999 and specifically targets companies in the $3 to $20 million ARR range with 25%+ annual growth.
Youth sports software fits what Frontier looks for: specialized workflows, customers who don't switch easily, predictable recurring revenue, and a fragmented market with room to grow. Frontier's bet is that Sprocket can use the capital to accelerate product development and sales while competitors deal with integration challenges from their own roll-ups.
Tim Bechtold, Partner at Frontier Growth, framed the opportunity around replacement: "We see a significant opportunity for Sprocket's modern, all-in-one platform to replace many of the dated and fragmented tools that currently exist in the youth sports marketplace."
Takeaways for Investors
The independent window is closing Sprocket may be the last founder-controlled modern platform in this category. As consolidation continues, the options for clubs (and for acquirers) narrow. That scarcity has value.
Minority investment is still available Not every deal in youth sports tech requires selling control. For founders with strong numbers and multiple options, partnerships like Frontier's offer a middle path.
Specialized software investors are paying attention Frontier's entry into youth sports software validates the category. Expect more investors who focus on industry-specific software to look at adjacent areas like leagues, facilities, and tournaments.
Post-merger integration creates opportunity While rolled-up competitors work through integration challenges, independent players like Sprocket can move faster on product and service. That gap won't last forever, but it's real right now.
