OTTO SPORT AI has raised $16.5 million in seed funding to accelerate development of its youth sports technology platform and expand its AI “Athlete Intelligence” Lab, as the company targets a market where organizers and families still contend with legacy software and manual workflows despite booming participation and spending.
The round was co-led by Mamba Growth Equity and Rally Ventures. OTTO SPORT AI said the new capital will be used to scale its product suite across core operational needs for clubs, leagues, and tournaments—including club management, league and tournament operations, ticketing, and athlete recruitment—while advancing agentic, purpose-built tools designed to reduce administrative burden and improve the experience for coaches, parents, and athletes.
The company is positioning itself as an “intelligent operating system” for youth sports organizations, arguing that the sector’s growth has outpaced the tools many programs rely on. OTTO SPORT AI cited estimates that families spend roughly $30 billion to $40 billion annually on organized youth sports in the U.S., while many organizations continue to manage registrations, communications, scheduling, and event operations through disconnected systems that create friction and inefficiencies.
OTTO SPORT AI’s founding team includes industry veterans with backgrounds at SportsEngine, TeamSnap, NCSA, and FloSports, paired with a team focused on building AI-driven automation for day-to-day sports operations. The company also said it has assembled a panel of advisors spanning multiple sports, including volleyball, soccer, and lacrosse.
A centerpiece of the company’s early momentum is OTTO PILOT, an AI-powered chat assistant that learns from an organization’s website and internal knowledge base to answer common questions and streamline communications. OTTO SPORT AI said OTTO PILOT completed a beta with early adopters and will be integrated into its broader platform, while also being offered as a standalone product for any youth sports organization.
Looking ahead, OTTO SPORT AI said it plans to roll out additional AI-driven tools, integrations, and features throughout 2026 as it builds toward a full platform intended to support youth sports operations “at every level,” from routine administration to large-scale event coordination.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our mission with OTTO SPORT AI is to harness the immense power and potential of AI while creating technology experiences that feel human and empathetic – like a great coach cheering you on. We’ve assembled a team of industry veterans, unified by a passion to create vastly better experiences, and technologists who know how to build at scale. With our dedicated AI Lab, we’re moving faster than ever—delivering tools that solve real problems at a pace this industry has not seen.”
Luke Zaientz, Co-Founder and CEO, OTTO SPORT AI; Co-Founder and former CEO, Reigning Champs
“Being part of the advisory group for OTTO PILOT was eye-opening. I spend so much time answering the same parent questions over and over, and seeing how quickly and accurately OTTO PILOT handles that was honestly amazing. It’s going to give me hours of time back during the season, and offer a much better experience for parents and athletes juggling a busy schedule.”
Lauren Sommer, Business Manager, Ocala Power United Volleyball
