Athlete To Athlete Raises $8M in Series A
The Santa Monica youth sports platform will use the funding to expand partnerships and scale nationwide.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Scholarships
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Athlete To Athlete, a Santa Monica-based youth sports technology platform, raised USD8 million (AUD11.7 million) in a Series A round led by Rally Ventures. Participating investors include Newbound VC, Scrum Ventures, and UpHonest Capital.
Why it matters
The platform connects youth athletes with current collegiate athletes for one-on-one virtual mentorship, and the funding is intended to extend that model nationwide. For Santa Monica residents, the round means a local youth sports company is scaling its operations and its footprint.
The Series A round totaled USD8 million, equal to AUD11.7 million. Mentorship programs run 12- and 24-week development cycles, though the source does not disclose the survey sample behind the reported 90 percent parent-satisfaction figure.
The players
Athlete To Athlete
A youth sports technology platform headquartered in Santa Monica that connects young athletes with collegiate athletes for virtual mentorship.
Rally Ventures
The venture capital firm that led the Series A financing round for Athlete To Athlete.
Anthony Waller
A former UCLA Division 1 athlete who co-founded Athlete To Athlete in 2023.
Zach Maisus
A former UCLA Division 1 athlete who co-founded Athlete To Athlete in 2023.
The details
Athlete To Athlete pairs youth participants with verified college athletes in their specific sport for one-on-one virtual mentorship, and the company also provides paid mentorship opportunities for collegiate athletes. The company was founded in 2023 by former UCLA Division 1 athletes Anthony Waller and Zach Maisus.
Timeline
2023: Athlete To Athlete is founded by Anthony Waller and Zach Maisus.
November 13, 2026: The Series A funding round is announced.
This year: The company expects to facilitate more than 100,000 mentorship sessions.
Scholarships Landscape
The round follows the NCAA's name, image and likeness rules, which since 2021 have let college athletes earn money from outside activities. Athlete To Athlete turns that opportunity into paid mentorship work for collegiate athletes.
Families of youth athletes in Santa Monica may gain access to one-on-one mentorship from current college athletes in their sport. Collegiate athletes can earn paid mentorship income as the platform expands nationwide.
The takeaway
Parents considering youth sports mentorship can look for programs that pair athletes with verified collegiate players in their specific sport. Ask providers how they measure outcomes before committing.
Further reading
For more on paid opportunities for college athletes, explore our Scholarships coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ministry of Sport.
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