Rocket Youth

What Rocket Youth does

Rocket Youth is a Miami-headquartered partnership platform, founded in 2024, that acquires and partners with locally operated youth enrichment businesses — spanning volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, swimming, lacrosse, soccer, athletics, music, child development, and youth camps — while preserving each partner's brand and local operating identity. The company has aggregated 14 partnerships/acquisitions, 20+ physical locations across 10 U.S. states, 700+ employees, and approximately 65,000 active end-customers in the trailing twelve months, with co-founders Eric Rapps (CEO), Jake Sloane, and Frank Zhang leading the roll-up strategy.

The platform itself is not a discrete software product but a shared back-office stack delivered to retained-brand partner operators. Capabilities include in-house marketing and demand generation, lead conversion, data analytics and industry benchmarks, business development for new locations and add-on acquisitions, capital access, finance and accounting, human resources and payroll, and legal and compliance support. Distribution is sales-led and direct: the company sources SMB owner-operators of youth sports and enrichment programs who need administrative relief and growth capital, then either acquires them outright (wholly-owned subsidiaries) or enters strategic partnerships under the Rocket Youth umbrella.

Revenue is generated through the consolidated operations of partnered businesses under a managed-services-style arrangement; no pricing, unit economics, or revenue figures are publicly disclosed. In February 2025 the company attracted strategic backing from sports-industry veterans Maverick Carter and Daniel Sillman to accelerate platform expansion. The company is privately held and headquartered at 2916 N Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33127.

Name

Rocket Youth

Legal name

Rocket Youth

Website

https://rocketyouth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Rocket Youth is a Miami-based partnership platform that acquires and supports local youth sports and enrichment businesses by delivering shared administrative, marketing, capital, and operational services across 14 brands, 20+ locations, and 10 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Enrichment Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

Keywords

• Youth enrichment platform
• Youth sports partnerships
• Enrichment business acquisitions
• Youth program support services
• Youth development operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Partnership and Acquisition Model: Rocket Youth grows through acquiring and partnering with youth enrichment businesses, providing administrative support, marketing, analytics, business development, capital access, HR, legal/compliance, and finance/accounting services. Revenue generated from consolidated operations of partnered businesses.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Rocket Youth acquires and partners with existing local youth enrichment businesses (sports, gymnastics, swimming, dance, music, camps) and provides them with comprehensive operational support including marketing, lead conversion, data analytics, business development, capital access, finance and accounting, HR, and legal/compliance services. Partnered businesses retain their original brand identity and local operational independence while leveraging Rocket Youth's centralized support infrastructure and network of 700+ employees.

Product overview

Rocket Youth operates as a unified youth enrichment platform that partners with and acquires local enrichment programs across multiple activity categories (volleyball, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, athletics, music, and youth camps). Rather than offering discrete software products or modules, the company provides a comprehensive suite of operational support services—including marketing, data analytics, lead conversion, business development, capital access, finance and accounting, human resources, and legal and compliance assistance—to partnered enrichment businesses. The platform enables partner organizations to maintain their unique brands and independence while leveraging Rocket Youth's network of resources, tools, and expert support to scale their operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rocket Youth Partnership Platform A partnership and acquisition model through which Rocket Youth acquires or partners with local youth enrichment businesses (volleyball, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, athletics, music, and youth camps) and provides them with comprehensive operational support services. Designed for owners and operators of youth enrichment businesses seeking administrative relief, capital access, and growth resources while retaining brand independence.

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Winkids Sports and Learning CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner enrichment program providing youth sports and learning activities
• The Victors GymnasticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner gymnastics facility under Rocket Youth network
• Team Illinois LacrosseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lacrosse program in Illinois
• Texas DreamsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth gymnastics program in Texas
• Silver StarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports program
• Sandhills GymnasticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner gymnastics facility
• Rev VolleyballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner volleyball program in Indiana
• Memphis Metro VolleyballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner volleyball program in Memphis
• Hardwood PalaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner basketball facility
• Evo Swim SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner swim school program
• Basketball Nation BWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner basketball program
• Cal Sports Center (CSC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner multi-sport facility in California
• A4 VolleyballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner volleyball club
• Predators LacrosseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lacrosse club
• MAVAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner volleyball organization
• All In EliteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports program
• Attitude of Gratitude (AOG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports program
• Supreme CourtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner basketball facility
• UGA PSLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports program
• Premium PrepminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner basketball preparation program
• Crabs LacrosseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner lacrosse club
• Hoopsource BasketballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner basketball program
• Cal EliteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports club
• SDG GymnasticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner gymnastics facility
• 630 VolleyballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner volleyball club
• Gold MedalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports program
• Tiger TournamentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth tournament organizer
• Breakthrough SportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner youth sports organization

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Unrivaled Sports: PE-backed holding company acquiring and operating youth sports clubs and facilities; the closest direct analogue to Rocket Youth's acquisition-and-partnership platform.
• i9 Sports: Youth sports league and franchise operator running local programs across the U.S.; directly comparable customer base, sport categories, and franchise/affiliate model.
• Skyhawks Sports Academy: Multi-sport youth enrichment franchise offering sports programs for kids; directly comparable as a multi-sport youth enrichment operator with similar target demographics.
• British Swim School: Franchised swim school operator for children with PE sponsorship (Levine Leichtman); comparable scale model and customer base within one of Rocket Youth's core categories (Evo Swim School).
• SafeSplash Swim School: PE-backed franchised swim school; directly comparable within the swim-enrichment vertical and as another franchise/roll-up platform.
• Code Ninjas: PE-backed franchisor of children's coding and STEM enrichment centers; comparable as a youth enrichment franchise platform serving the same demographic with multi-unit scaling.
• Amazing Athletes: Youth sports franchise delivering multi-sport programs to children at schools and facilities; directly comparable multi-sport enrichment model for the same customer segment.

Broad incumbents

• Goldfish Swim School: National franchise consolidator in youth aquatics with multiple PE sponsors (L Catterton); comparable as a scaled, capital-backed youth enrichment franchise platform.
• School of Rock: PE-rolled music education franchise platform (Sterling Partners / Sterling Investment Partners); directly comparable as a youth enrichment franchise consolidator that scaled through acquisition and partnership.

Regional players

• US Sports Camps (Nike Sports Camps): Operator of youth sports camps across multiple U.S. sports, comparable as a youth enrichment multi-sport operator with similar camp and clinic offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rocket Youth