Rocket Youth

Overview

Youth enrichment and sports platform launched March 2024. Founded by Eric Rapps, Jake Sloane, and Frank Zhang. Positions as “the leading partner to local and regional youth sports and enrichment businesses” across the U.S.

Funding

• $100M+ round announced February 2025
• Led by Maverick Carter (LRMR Ventures / LeBron James business partner) and Daniel Sillman (Relevent Sports CEO)
• Alongside ZBS Partners (Jake Sloane and Frank Zhang’s PE firm)

Backer: ZBS Partners

• Founded 2017
• Six category-leading businesses built via partnerships with local/regional owner-operators
• Self-reported “billions of dollars” total enterprise value across portfolio

Model

Partnership-based (operator retains autonomy) rather than pure roll-up. Back office provided centrally.

Sports Focus

Multi-sport enrichment — volleyball, gymnastics, swim among early verticals per Trevor’s notes. Broader than competitive club focus.

Strategic Notes

• Not a direct soccer competitor today. Different layer of the market (recreational/enrichment vs. competitive club).
• Celebrity-adjacent capital (Carter / Sillman) validates youth-sports thesis to blue-chip LPs.
• Potential strategic minority co-investor for SYNRGY if soccer-competitive-club expansion aligns.

Note

This is the platform Trevor’s working notes referred to as “Coached Youth” with “Daniel Siegal” and “Maverick Seller” — corrected here based on public filings.

Open Questions

• Post-money valuation (undisclosed).
• Specific portfolio businesses under the Rocket Youth umbrella.
• Whether ZBS sees soccer competitive clubs as in-scope.