Loading organizations...
Youth Inc. operates a comprehensive digital media and commerce platform dedicated to the youth sports ecosystem. This platform serves as a centralized hub, delivering editorial and multimedia content, expert advice, and curated gear tailored to youth athletes, their parents, and coaches. By consolidating diverse resources, Youth Inc. streamlines access to information and products essential for participation and development in youth sports, covering aspects from mental fitness to practical tools.
The company was co-founded by former professional athlete Greg Olsen and Ryan Baise. Their insight stemmed from recognizing a fragmented landscape within youth sports, where valuable information and necessary equipment were dispersed across various sources. Olsen's extensive experience in professional sports likely informed the creation of a platform designed to holistically support the aspirations and challenges faced by young athletes and their support networks.
Youth Inc. primarily serves youth athletes, their parents, and coaches seeking reliable guidance and resources. The company's vision is to empower and enrich the youth sports community by providing an integrated solution for content, knowledge, and commerce. It aims to be the go-to destination for anyone involved in youth sports, fostering an environment where young participants can thrive and achieve their potential.
YOUTH has raised $5.5M across 2 funding rounds.
YOUTH has raised $5.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
YOUTH has raised $5.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
YOUTH's investors include Antler, Athletico Ventures, Cocoa, Founders Future, P101, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Adrien Montfort, Frederic Montagnon, Harsh Sinha, Jean Charles Samuelian, Konstantin Othmer, Valentine Baudouin.
YOUTH has raised $5.5M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Seed in September 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | $1M Seed | — | Antler, Athletico Ventures, Cocoa, Founders Future, P101, Walden Catalyst Ventures, Adrien Montfort, Frederic Montagnon, Harsh Sinha, Jean Charles Samuelian, Konstantin Othmer, Valentine Baudouin | Announced |
| May 13, 2024 | $4.5M Seed | Will Ventures | CJ Stroud, JIM Toth, Josh Allen, Ryan DAY, Isos Capital Management, Ryan Sports Ventures | Announced |
Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF) is an international nonprofit organization founded in 2000 that provides technology training at the intersection of education and entrepreneurship, teaching lifelong learning skills to young people, particularly underserved and economically disadvantaged individuals, including middle school girls in the U.S. and communities in South America like Colombia.[1] Its flagship YTF Academy offers age-appropriate curricula emphasizing STEM subjects, financial inclusion, business training for women, and programs like 3D Printing Academy for Girls to build economic resilience, inspire STEM careers, and address skills gaps in education systems.[1]
Other entities sharing similar names, such as Youth Technology Network (YTN), Youth Technology Corps (YTC), and Youth Tech Inc., also focus on youth STEM/STEAM education but operate as distinct nonprofits: YTN delivers academic enrichment, AR/VR tech services, and outreach aligned with K-12 curricula; YTC provides after-school tech/engineering education to at-risk Chicago youth; and Youth Tech Inc. runs affordable computer camps for students aged 6-17.[2][3][4][5][6] None appear to be for-profit technology companies building commercial products.
YTF was established in 2000 as a training organization by a team of "passionate optimists" committed to empowering youth and women through technology, starting with programs that bridge education and entrepreneurship gaps.[1] It evolved to include targeted initiatives like YTF Academy's four curricula, women entrepreneur training, and region-specific efforts in the U.S. (focusing on middle school girls' STEM interest) and South America (e.g., Colombia), responding to precarious adolescent years and systemic skills shortages.[1]
YTC was founded by David Finkel (President) with co-chairs Mark Lennon and Angela James, alongside tech advisor Jeremy Mingo and school sponsors, centering on Chicago's at-risk youth through clubs, competitions, and camps.[3] YTN and Youth Tech Inc. emerged as nonprofits dedicated to STEAM/CTE enrichment and computer camps, respectively, without specified founding details in available data, but driven by missions to spark curiosity and provide competitive learning advantages.[2][5][6]
These organizations ride the wave of STEM/STEAM equity trends, capitalizing on growing demand for inclusive tech education amid tech workforce shortages and gender gaps in STEM (e.g., U.S. middle school girls losing interest).[1][2][3] Timing aligns with post-pandemic remote learning shifts and AR/VR adoption in K-12, amplified by market forces like government education funding and corporate diversity initiatives favoring nonprofits that boost underrepresented talent pipelines.[2]
They influence the ecosystem by creating resilient future workers, fostering entrepreneurship, and partnering with schools/communities to sustain STEM interest, indirectly supporting tech giants' diversity goals without direct profit motives.[1][3]
YTF and peers will likely expand hybrid/virtual programs leveraging AI-driven personalization and global partnerships, shaped by trends like universal basic skills training and climate-resilient entrepreneurship for youth.[1] Their influence may grow through scaled impact metrics (e.g., alumni career outcomes), potentially attracting more philanthropic/tech funding, evolving from local trainers to key feeders for the global tech talent shortage. This positions them as vital bridges in an increasingly tech-dependent world, empowering the next generation to not just adapt, but innovate.
