Platform Sports

What Platform Sports does

Platform Sports Management is a privately-held sports recruitment agency founded in 2014 by Amrit Rai and headquartered at 2A Railway Street, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand. The company specialises in placing international student-athletes, primarily from New Zealand and Australia, into U.S. and now U.K. college sports programmes across NCAA Division I, II, and III, NAIA, and NJCAA. Platform Sports delivers an end-to-end engagement covering athlete profiling, eligibility navigation, college coach outreach, scholarship negotiation, and longitudinal support through graduation and transfers, and reports cumulative outcomes of 2,000+ athlete placements and $200M+ in scholarships secured across 24+ sports and athletes from 15+ countries. Its customer base is B2C, comprising student-athletes aged roughly 15-19 and their parents, acquired through a sales-led motion anchored by a free 30-minute consultation, supplemented by an event-driven calendar of showcases, ID camps, information evenings, and webinars across New Zealand and Australia.

The company's core technology is a proprietary Athlete Portal that consolidates athlete profiles, eligibility tracking, recruitment timelines, and communication between athletes, families, and college coaches. This is complemented by an exclusive Masterclass video library on the U.S. college recruitment process and the On The Field Podcast for athlete and family education. Platform Sports also operates an officially endorsed partner network spanning premier football academies (Wellington Phoenix Academy, Port Melbourne Sharks, Strive Football Academy), tennis and rugby programmes, and leading New Zealand secondary schools, which functions as both a referral distribution channel and a credibility layer with college coaching staffs. The team is small (1-10 employees) and consists entirely of former U.S. college athletes and coaches with firsthand NCAA experience, including the founder Amrit Rai (over $100M in personal scholarship placements) and regional managers William Clarkson (Australia) and Pamela Saville (New Zealand).

Platform Sports monetises through professional services fees quoted on a per-engagement basis following the free initial consultation; pricing is not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market combines direct regional sales in New Zealand and Australia, an extensive events and content calendar (webinars, showcases, podcast), and partner-driven referrals from clubs, academies, and schools. The company has no disclosed institutional funding and remains 100% founder-owned. In 2025-2026 it announced strategic partnerships with Wellington Phoenix Academy (September 2025) and recruitment technology platform Talentlockr (June 2025), and expanded its college pathway offering to the United Kingdom through a partnership with the Student Sport Company in early 2026, signalling a broadening of both product surface and geographic reach beyond its ANZ and U.S. core.

Name

Platform Sports

Legal name

Platform Sports Management

Website

https://platformsportsmanagement.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Platform Sports Management places international student-athletes, primarily from New Zealand and Australia, into U.S. and U.K. college sports programmes, providing end-to-end recruitment, eligibility, scholarship, and ongoing support services across 24+ sports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Recruitment Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Athletic Recruitment & NCAA/NAIA Eligibility Counseling (EDANAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

College Recruiting & Scholarship Advisory / Athlete Placement (HSADAEAL)

Keywords

• College sports recruitment
• Athletic scholarship placement
• Student-athlete placement
• Sports recruiting services
• NCAA eligibility guidance

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Recruitment and Placement Services: Platform Sports charges fees for its end-to-end U.S. and UK college sports recruitment service, which includes free initial consultation followed by paid engagement covering athlete profiling, college matching, coach communication management, scholarship negotiation, and ongoing support through graduation.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Platform Sports provides end-to-end college sports recruitment services for international student-athletes seeking scholarships at U.S. and UK universities. The service covers athlete profiling, highlight reel development, college matching, coach communication management, scholarship negotiation, eligibility tracking, and ongoing support through college graduation and transfers. Delivery is supported by a proprietary Athlete Portal, a Masterclass educational library, and an extensive events and webinar programme.

Product overview

Platform Sports Management operates as a unified sports recruitment services platform offering athlete placement into U.S. and UK college sports programs. The core product portfolio consists of the Athlete Portal (a central recruitment management dashboard), the Masterclass (exclusive educational content), and the On The Field Podcast (content/offering). These are complemented by end-to-end recruitment services covering Preparation, Connection, Placement, and Protection phases. The company supports athletes across 24+ sports including soccer, tennis, golf, swimming, basketball, rugby, and track and field.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recruitment Services (Preparation, Connection, Placement, Protection)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000 athletes placed at U.S. and UK colleges
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers40 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wellington Phoenix AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2025Officially endorsed partnership providing Wellington Phoenix Academy players and wider New Zealand football talent a direct route into U.S. college scholarships, adding an education-led pathway alongside the club's professional pipeline.
• TalentlockrcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2025Strategic partnership with Talentlockr, a recruitment technology platform, to deliver a streamlined athlete discovery, evaluation, and recruitment experience with better tools, clearer data, and smarter recruitment opportunities for student-athletes and families.
• Port Melbourne SharkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Port Melbourne Sharks SC to give their players and families a clearer pathway to U.S. college sport, combining football development with education and international exposure opportunities.
• Somerville Hockey ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership opens new U.S. college opportunities for Somerville's young women hockey athletes, combining elite hockey performance with academic pathways abroad, with focus on long-term athlete growth and a pathway to premier grades and representative honours.
• Strive Football AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides Strive Football Academy athletes a clear pathway into the U.S. college system, combining football opportunities with world-class education. Strive is a purpose-driven development programme led by Owner and Head Coach Elisa Brito.
• Viking AthleticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Viking Athletics, an Australian athletics development organisation led by Director of Coaching Brett Robinson, providing tailored guidance for athletes ready to take their training to the next level and navigate the U.S. college recruitment process.
• S.A.S.S Rugby AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration opens new U.S. college rugby opportunities for S.A.S.S athletes aged 15-20, with Platform Sports providing expert guidance from early conversations through to final scholarship offers, supporting both academic and athletic pathways.
• PBI TennisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PBI Tennis, a global leader in tennis coaching and player development, to support tennis athletes in accessing U.S. college opportunities through world-class training programmes tailored to players of all ages and skill levels.
• Westlake Boys High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Westlake Boys High School, a premier Auckland institution known for strong academic, cultural, and sporting achievements, to support students exploring U.S. college sports pathways.
• Wellington CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wellington College, one of New Zealand's most prestigious secondary schools, providing U.S. college sports pathway guidance to students in a supportive environment that encourages excellence academically, culturally, and in sports.
• Christchurch UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Christchurch United, a pioneering football club in New Zealand with state-of-the-art facilities and a focus on holistic player development, providing athletes opportunities to excel locally and internationally.
• Wellington Olympic AFCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Wellington Olympic AFC, one of New Zealand's most historic and successful football clubs, supporting athletes in reaching their full potential both on and off the field.
• NYC Football AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NYC Football Academy, an elite girls-only soccer program based in Redlands City, Queensland, developing the next wave of female athletes through high-performance training, mentorship, and U.S. college pathway support.
• Fit To PlayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Fit to Play to support student-athletes with physical preparation, injury prevention, and long-term athletic development, complementing the recruitment pathway with performance-focused athletic preparation.
• Avanti Football AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Avanti Football Academy to help players navigate the U.S. college pathway with guidance, support, and connections, creating more opportunities for ambitious footballers.
• Student Sport CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Student Sport Company through which Platform Sports expanded its college pathways to the United Kingdom, providing athletes access to BUCS-affiliated university sport programmes.
• YES AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with YES Academy to expand international pathways for young footballers aspiring to study, play, and grow overseas, opening a clear and supported route for YES Academy players to pursue U.S. college soccer.
• Logan Lightning FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Logan Lightning FC athletes with a direct pathway into U.S. college soccer, with access to free college consultations, personalised recruitment support, and guidance for sporting and academic journeys.
• Dunedin City Royals FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Dunedin City Royals FC, a prominent New Zealand football club dedicated to player development, providing athletes top-tier coaching and competitive opportunities alongside U.S. college pathway support.
• Papamoa FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Papamoa FC, a vibrant New Zealand football club known for community ties and player development, offering high-quality coaching and competitive opportunities with U.S. college pathway support.
• Ōtākaro FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ōtākaro FC, a dynamic New Zealand football club dedicated to fostering talent and creating opportunities for players of all ages and abilities, rooted in community, teamwork, and love for the game.
• Ultimate SportsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership creating a genuine pathway for Platform athletes to access opportunities in the U.S. collegiate system, aligning high-performance development with long-term career and education outcomes.
• Ferrymead Bays FootballminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ferrymead Bays Football, a respected New Zealand club with strong community focus and commitment to nurturing football talent, providing high-quality training and development alongside U.S. college pathway access.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prepory: Prepory provides college athletic recruiting services combining software tools and personalized coaching to help student-athletes secure college placements. It is comparable to Platform Sports in offering end-to-end recruitment support, with similar athlete profiling, coach outreach, and scholarship guidance.
• CaptainU: CaptainU is an athlete recruiting platform providing profile creation, video highlight tools, and direct communication with college coaches. It competes in the same college sports recruitment category as Platform Sports, with a software-led approach that complements Platform Sports' high-touch advisory model.
• BeRecruited: BeRecruited is a college athletic recruiting network connecting high school athletes with college coaches. It overlaps directly with Platform Sports in athlete profiling and college matching, though it operates primarily in the U.S. market with less emphasis on international scholarship placement.
• FieldLevel: FieldLevel is an athlete-recruiting network that uses video and athletic profiles to help athletes get discovered by college coaches. It targets the same NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA pathways that Platform Sports supports, with a technology-led matching approach serving as a substitute or complement to Platform Sports' advisory service.
• SportsRecruits: SportsRecruits is a digital recruiting platform that helps high school athletes build profiles and communicate with college coaches. It is comparable to Platform Sports in offering profile-building and coach-outreach tools, though its focus is primarily U.S.-based athletes and a broader set of sports programs.

Broad incumbents

• Reigning Champs (NCSA parent): Reigning Champs acquired NCSA and operates a portfolio of athlete-development and college-recruiting products. It competes with Platform Sports in the broader college athletic recruiting ecosystem, but at materially larger scale and a wider product portfolio spanning NIL, performance, and recruiting.
• NCSA (Next College Student Athlete): NCSA is the largest U.S. college athletic recruiting platform, connecting high school athletes with college coaches across NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. It operates at much greater scale and broader U.S. reach than Platform Sports, but serves an overlapping athlete-recruitment use case with similar scholarship navigation goals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/platformsports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Platform Sports