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Refr Sports develops comprehensive referee management and assigning software, streamlining operational tasks for sports organizations. Their platform consolidates scheduling, communication, and payment processes into a single system, providing essential tools that address common challenges faced by assignors and officials. The company also offers custom website creation, centralizing information and management for its users.
The company was co-founded by Huck Sorock and Wyatt Gustafson in 2022. Their shared insight stemmed from recognizing the inefficiencies and unmet needs within the sports officiating industry. Both founders, drawing upon their experiences or close ties to the sports world, identified the necessity for a unified solution to improve the experience for referees, assignors, and organizations alike.
Refr Sports primarily serves referees, assignors, and tournament organizers, along with sports organizations and associations across the nation. The company’s long-term vision is to advance the entire officiating industry by providing robust tools and fostering better-managed sports programs, ultimately enhancing the overall experience for all participants.
Refr Sports has raised $540K across 1 funding round.
Refr Sports has raised $540K in total across 1 funding round.
Refr Sports has raised $540K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $540K Seed in March 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2024 | $540K Seed | Groove Capital | Bread And Butter Ventures, Carson Kipfer, Daren Cotter | Announced |
Refr Sports is a technology company building a SaaS platform for referee management in the sports industry. It connects sports organizations, referees, and assignors to streamline game scheduling, communication, payments, and availability management, solving inefficiencies in outdated, manual referee assignment processes.[1][2][3] Primarily serving youth sports leagues, tournaments, clubs, and officials nationwide, the platform offers real-time visibility, automated weekly payouts via Stripe Connect Express (including tax handling and 1099s), and tools for assignors to manage schedules with speed and accuracy.[2][3] Founded in 2022 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Refr has gained early traction, raising nearly $1 million in venture capital while expanding to youth sports markets.[1][4]
Refr Sports was founded in 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by entrepreneur Jake Sorock, a University of Colorado Boulder alumnus highlighted for his startup journey through the school's entrepreneurship programs.[1][4] The idea emerged from recognizing the sports industry's reliance on slow, manual referee tools, positioning Refr as a gig economy platform to modernize officiating for referees and organizers.[2][3] Early pivotal moments include securing nearly $1 million in VC funding by its third year (around 2025), enabling rollout to youth sports organizations and building trust among thousands of users nationwide.[2][4]
Refr Sports rides the gig economy wave in sports tech, capitalizing on demand for on-demand officiating amid booming youth and amateur sports participation post-pandemic.[3] Timing aligns with digital transformation in niche sports management, where outdated tools hinder growth; market forces like rising tournament volumes and referee shortages favor platforms enabling instant matching and payments.[1][2] By streamlining referee supply chains, Refr influences the ecosystem like Uber for sports officials, reducing no-shows, boosting efficiency for leagues (vs. rivals like TeamSnap or Kyck.com), and supporting scalable youth sports operations.[1][4]
Refr Sports is poised for accelerated growth by deepening penetration in youth and tournament markets, potentially expanding to pro/amateur leagues with its proven funding and user base. Trends like AI-driven scheduling, global sports tech adoption, and gig worker protections will shape its path, amplifying influence as the go-to referee platform. As it evolves from startup to category leader, Refr will redefine efficient officiating, turning a manual pain point into a seamless strength for the sports industry.[2][4]
Refr Sports has raised $540K in total across 1 funding round.
Refr Sports's investors include Groove Capital, Bread and Butter Ventures, Carson Kipfer, Daren Cotter.
