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Sports entrepreneur Alex Rodriguez's startup, Jump, raises a substantial $23 million in funding aiming to position itself as the Shopify equivalent for sports teams.

MLB legend and Timberwolves co-owner Marc Lore's recently established venture has surged to a valuation over $100 million, striving to create a comprehensive fan platform.

Investment of $23 million boosts Alex Rodriguez's sports team-focused startup, aiming to rival...
Investment of $23 million boosts Alex Rodriguez's sports team-focused startup, aiming to rival Shopify's success.

Sports entrepreneur Alex Rodriguez's startup, Jump, raises a substantial $23 million in funding aiming to position itself as the Shopify equivalent for sports teams.

Jump, a groundbreaking ticketing and fan experience platform, has secured $23 million in Series A funding, led by Alexis Ohanian's venture firm, Seven Seven Six. This investment brings Jump's total funding to $58 million and values the company north of $100 million.

Founded in 2021 by e-commerce billionaire Marc Lore, MLB legend Alex Rodriguez, and entrepreneur Jordy Leiser, Jump aims to create a one-stop platform for sports fans to buy tickets, merchandise, and concessions without high fees. The platform also enhances the fan experience with perks such as in-game seat upgrades and bulk ticket purchasing options.

Operating on a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, Jump charges sports teams licensing fees and takes a small percentage of transactions. The platform is designed to modernize and unlock new revenue streams for teams by improving game-day earnings and boosting fan loyalty through a smoother, more integrated experience.

As of 2025, Jump has signed up four professional sports teams as clients: the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA), the Minnesota Lynx (WNBA), the North Carolina Courage (NWSL), and North Carolina FC (USL League One soccer). Notably, Rodriguez and Lore co-own the Timberwolves and Lynx, providing a live testing ground for the platform’s innovations.

The NWSL's North Carolina Courage has seen significant improvements after replacing Ticketmaster and other vendors with Jump. The team has slashed costs by six figures and seen increases in the sale of multi-game ticket packages and single-game ticket buyers. Steve Malik, the medical tech entrepreneur who owns the North Carolina Courage and North Carolina FC, invested in Jump's latest funding round after his firsthand experience with the product.

Jump plans to add to its client roster by the end of 2025 and showcase its capabilities with the Timberwolves and the Courage. Jordy Leiser expects interest in Jump to skyrocket as more people see what the platform can do. The company's use of artificial intelligence tools in its software engineering could one day ease the financial burden.

Despite the promising growth, Jump is currently unprofitable and relies on outside money to cover the cost of its roughly 50 employees and expensive infrastructure. Forbes estimates Jump's annual revenue is currently less than $10 million. The $23 million raise is primarily earmarked toward existing expenses as the company continues to improve its tech and reel in new customers.

In the sports world, Ohanian is no stranger. Six years ago, he co-founded the National Women's Soccer League's Angel City FC. Ohanian believes that emerging, ascendant leagues have the opportunity to make more money as they are growing quickly and have fans who are "so fired up to support these players, so fired up to support what these teams represent."

With the Series A funding, Jump is well-positioned to revolutionize fan engagement by consolidating ticketing, merchandise, and concessions into one seamless, low-fee experience. The company's vision is to streamline and unify the purchasing process, removing the need for fans to use multiple platforms and accounts, much like what Shopify does for online merchants.

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Alex Rodriguez, co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and e-commerce billionaire Marc Lore, founder of Jump, have attracted $23 million in Series A funding, led by Alexis Ohanian's venture firm, Seven Seven Six. The business, aimed at revolutionizing sports fan engagement by consolidating ticketing, merchandise, and concessions into one seamless, low-fee experience, operates in the technology and finance sectors.

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