Abler raises $3.7M from Frumtak Ventures to improve sports management
Abler, a sports management technology company and the creator of Sportabler, announced today it has raised $3.7M in post-seed funding from Icelandic VC firm Frumtak Ventures. Abler simplifies the complexities of sports participation by digitising and increasing efficiency in the management and facilitation of organised sports programs. The new capital will be used to develope the Abler product family further and deepen Abler’s reach in the Nordic, UK, and EU markets.
Abler’s product family connects all stakeholders and enables parents and guardians to register and pay for various activities, such as league football, handball, gymnastics and dance, as well as purchase-related team-branded products. At the league and team management level, program organisers and coaches leverage Sportabler’s comprehensive management tools to significantly improve the administration of team sports and other organised activities. These administrative features include roster management, event management, venue booking, resource utilisation, logistics, e-commerce, contacts, and communication between parents, coaches, and league managers.
“Abler’s vision is to make good sports programs better and improve the working environment of an industry that plays a vital role in communities,” said Markus Mani Maute, Co-founder of Abler and former professional handball player in Iceland and Germany. “Sports improve the overall physical, mental and social health of communities, and we believe that strengthening the organisations that run these programs is key to increasing interest and participation.”
To achieve these goals, Abler has partnered with experts in sports, psychology, and academia to develop its products and services. The company has already captured over 95% of the organised sports market in Iceland and is currently running pilot programs for youth league football and handball in the UK and Germany. While the system was initially designed for sports, Abler now also serves a broader audience of organised groups that benefit from Abler’s membership management features, such as fitness centres, music schools and other organised activities.
Abler previously received angel investment from gaming and tech investors Alli Ottarsson (Makers Fund, Riot Games), Siggi Olafsson (Novator, CCP Games), Thor Fridriksson (Plain Vanilla, TeaTime, Rocky Road), as well as professional footballers Birkir Bjarnason and Alfreð Finnbogason, handball coaches Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson and Dagur Sigurdsson. It has received grant funding and support from the Iceland Technical Development Fund, the Innovation Center of Iceland, and the Icelandic Directorate of Health.
