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League One Volleyball (LOVB) constructs a comprehensive ecosystem for the sport, integrating a professional women’s league with a vast network of youth volleyball clubs across the United States. This structure facilitates player development from early stages through to elite professional competition. The organization’s operational model focuses on creating interconnected pathways, ensuring continuity and growth within the sport by unifying disparate segments under one cohesive platform.
Founded in 2020 by CEO and co-founder Katlyn Gao, LOVB emerged from the insight that a significant opportunity existed to professionalize and elevate women's volleyball in the United States. Gao recognized the fragmented nature of the sport's landscape, particularly the lack of a clear, financially viable pathway for top talent beyond college. This led to the development of a vertically integrated system designed to nurture athletes at every level.
LOVB caters to a wide audience, from aspiring youth players to professional athletes and a growing fan base passionate about volleyball. The company’s long-term vision is to establish volleyball as a premier professional sport, enhancing its visibility and providing a sustainable career path for athletes. It aims to build a vibrant and engaged community by connecting all facets of the sport, ultimately transforming how volleyball is perceived and consumed.
League One Volleyball has raised $157.0M across 3 funding rounds.
League One Volleyball has raised $157.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
League One Volleyball has raised $157.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $100.0M Series U in November 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2024 | $100M Series U | — | Teamworthy Ventures, Thirty Five Ventures | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2023 | $35M Series B | — | Teamworthy Ventures, Thirty Five Ventures | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2022 | $22M Series A | — | Teamworthy Ventures, Thirty Five Ventures | Announced |
League One Volleyball (LOVB) is a sports organization that operates the largest network of youth volleyball clubs in the United States, serving over 24,000 players, 3,200 coaches, and 2,200 teams across 96 locations in 28 states, while expanding into professional women's indoor volleyball through its LOVB Pro league, which launched its inaugural six-team season in January 2025.[2][3][7] Headquartered in Hermosa Beach, California, LOVB builds a holistic ecosystem from youth development to pro competition, including a foundation for financial aid, with $135M-$160M raised to date, including a $100M Series C round in mid-2025.[1][3][4] It solves access barriers in volleyball by fostering talent pipelines, coach development, and pro opportunities, driving growth from 77 clubs in July 2025 to broader national expansion.[2][3]
LOVB was founded in 2019-2020 by CEO Katlyn Gao, Peter Hirschmann, and Olympian beach volleyball player Kevin Wong, starting as a network of youth clubs focused on player and coach development for ages 12-18.[1][3][6] The idea emerged to create a sustainable path from grassroots volleyball to professional play, addressing gaps in U.S. infrastructure where top talent often leaves for international leagues.[3][6] Early traction built rapidly: by 2025, it scaled to 86 clubs and launched LOVB Pro, with pivotal moments like selling franchises (e.g., LOVB Austin to investors including David Blitzer in June 2025, LOVB Nebraska to Jordan Larson in August 2025) and announcing LOVB San Francisco for 2027.[2][3][5]
While not a traditional technology company, LOVB leverages tech-enabled operations in sports ecosystem building, riding the surge in women's professional leagues (e.g., NWSL, PWHL) amid $1B+ investments in women's sports since 2021.[3][5] Timing aligns with volleyball's U.S. popularity boom post-Olympics, youth sports market growth (projected $20B+ by 2028), and fan demand for domestic pro play, countering talent exodus abroad.[2][6][7] Market forces like venture funding in sports tech (e.g., analytics, fan engagement) and women's empowerment trends favor LOVB, as seen in women-led ownership groups and equity stakes from firms like Ares Management.[4][5] It influences the ecosystem by professionalizing youth volleyball, boosting participation (14,000-24,000 athletes), and setting a model for scalable, community-driven sports leagues.[2][3][7]
LOVB is poised for national dominance, with plans for more pro franchises (e.g., San Francisco in 2027), youth expansion, and deepened media partnerships like ESPN.[2][5][7] Trends like rising women's sports viewership, tech integrations for training/fan apps, and private equity inflows will accelerate growth, potentially valuing the league at $500M+ by 2030 amid Series C momentum.[1][4] Its influence may evolve from youth leader to multi-sport powerhouse, sustaining volleyball's U.S. revival through holistic development—turning grassroots passion into pro stardom.[3][6]
League One Volleyball has raised $157.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
League One Volleyball's investors include Teamworthy Ventures, Thirty Five Ventures.
