Golftech startup raises $675K seed round, swinging for franchise expansion and commercial tech launch
December 4, 2024 | Startland News Staff
A Lenexa-based tech company focused on accelerating skills for avid golfers hit a funding milestone this week, announcing a seed round meant to bridge the gap between on-course and off-course play through its innovative physical and digital solutions.
Albatross Golf — which boasts two flagship offerings: GolfTRK and Noonan — on Tuesday shared news of its $675,000 funding infusion, fueled in large part by the Kansas Angel Investor Tax Credit (KAITC) program. The statewide initiative incentivizes investments in Kansas startups by giving investors 50 percent of their investment back as Kansas tax credits.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the state of Kansas and the KAITC program,” said Alex Reed, CEO and co-founder of Albatross Golf. “We experienced firsthand the challenge of accessing outside capital here in the Midwest. We’re fortunate to be headquartered in a state that invests so heavily in helping startups get off the ground. With this funding, Albatross Golf is poised to redefine golf for avid players everywhere.”
The company looks to a specific pain point on the green: the 14.5 million “Dualies” — avid golfers who play both on and off the course — whose preferred golf venues fall short in providing the experience and technology needed to train and improve their game.
Matt Williams, Noonan, Albatross Golf, pitches his company during the 2023 Pure Pitch Rally; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News
Albatross Golf was founded by passionate golfers — including Matt Williams, its president who pitched the Noonan product in 2023 at Pure Pitch Rally; Sam Collins and Paul Buonopane — seeking access to the same tools and technology used by tour players to enhance their performance.
The just-announced funding will drive the growth of GolfTRK — a modern training and performance indoor golf franchise recently named a Trackman Preferred Franchise Partner, joining an exclusive group of just nine worldwide — and Noonan — a patent-pending Digital Caddie platform currently in Beta, which uses simulator data to deliver intelligent shot recommendations and help golfers lower their scores.
The commercial version of Noonan is set to launch by the end of 2024.
GolfTRK simulator in Lenexa; photo courtesy of GolfTRK, Albatross Golf
As part of the seed round, Albatross Golf signed its first four GolfTRK franchise units, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion and commitment to bringing professional-grade training to more golfers, Reed said.
Noonan has already received $26,000 in startup grants from Digital Sandbox KC and Pure Pitch Rally, affirming its potential to disrupt the golf technology landscape, Reed noted. The platform was also a finalist in the 2024 PGA Merchandise Show Golf Pitch Challenge, where it was praised by golf legends and business leaders alike, he added.
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