USTA Ventures backs Rec, the recreation platform that's raised $20M+
What's the deal? USTA Ventures, the investment arm of the U.S. Tennis AssociationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has invested in Rec TechnologiesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, an AI-driven platform that connects people with local parks and recreation facilities to rent court time, book lessons, or enrol in sports programmes. Financial terms were not disclosed, though USTA Ventures typically takes small, minority stakes in emerging technology companies. It marks the arm's fifth investment since launching in 2023.
What does Rec do? Founded in 2022 by former Uber employees Birju KadakiaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (chief executive officer) and Rachel WilliamsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (president), Rec licenses its software to park and facility operators and adds transaction fees. Its platform spans more than 30 states, and 90% of its enterprise clients are public organisations, Williams said.
Why now? Michael Hughes, the USTA's senior director of digital strategy and business development, said he had tracked Rec for two years and was impressed by its growth. A feature pairing tennis players with coaches aligns with the USTA's push through its new subsidiary, USTA CoachingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
"They source coaches. We have coaches," Hughes said. "Their business is aimed at exactly what we're trying to do. More coaches, better connections, more play on public courts."
By the numbers. Rec has about 40 employees and has raised more than $20 million to date. Its latest round was an $11M Series A in 2025 led by Crosslink Capital, with participation from Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman's Thirty Five VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Joe Montana's Liquid 2 Ventures, and the Cubs' Marquee VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Larry Fitzgerald Jr.Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Kelvin Beachum Jr.Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → also joined.
NFX, Precursor VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and Long Journey VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → sit on the cap table, dating to a $6.2M seed in 2024.
What's the endgame? Williams said Rec's roots are in tennis but it works across sports, with a focus on research and development and expansion into more markets. "We've built the most capable AI, specifically for recreation, in the sports industry," she said.
The signal: A national governing body taking a stake in recreation-tech signals interest in the infrastructure behind public play — the courts, coaches, and booking systems that feed grassroots participation, rather than the elite game alone.
Read more: Sports Business Journal
