Arkero Announces $6 Million Pre Seed Funding Round, Partnerships with major MLS, NWSL and EFL teams
Washingtoner/10315744

SEATTLE - Washingtoner -- Arkero, a new platform using all aspects of Artificial Intelligence to effectively run the day-to-day operations of complex organizations in sport, today announced a $6 million pre-seed funding round, and early partnerships with professional sports organizations across MLS, NWSL, and the English Football League.

The round was led by Roger Ehrenberg at Game Changers Ventures, with participation from Alexis Ohanian (776), David Tisch (BoxGroup), Garuda Ventures, Founders' Co-op and strategic investors including Adrian Hanauer of the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign.

Arkero's first partners include the Seattle Sounders, Seattle Reign, San Diego FC and Bolton Wanderers FC. Initial deployments focus on integrating AI into matchday planning and season-ticket renewals to help teams streamline coordination, reduce manual work, and operate with greater clarity across disconnected tools.

More on Washingtoner

• As Paris Hilton Reclaims Her Icon Status, "Pretty Pop Star" Reemerges to Battle the Age of AI Music
• Food Journal Magazine Is Shaping the Conversation Around Los Angeles Food in 2026
• MITSUYA PLATING Expands ONE-STOP Service for US-based Medical Device, Semiconductor and Aerospace Manufacturers
• Spokane Police Department Continues To Bolster The Neighborhood Resource Officer Program
• Voiset AI Planner Launches Smart Booking: Real Estate Agents, ADHD Coaches, Sales Teams End Calendar Chaos

In early deployments, the Sounders and Reign project over 50% improvement in efficiency savings around matchday planning in 2026 alone, driven by reduced manual work, faster decision-making, and fewer operational errors.

Arkero centralizes operational data, workflows, and decisions into a single system, allowing business teams to plan, execute, and adapt in real time - without adding headcount or new layers of complexity. Because it is being built by operators who have run clubs themselves, Arkero reflects the realities of sports businesses: small teams, complex events, constant deadlines, and no margin for error. As a result, teams gain back time, clarity, and confidence - and can focus on growing the business rather than managing around broken processes.

"I own a football club. I've sat in the meetings, lived the chaos, and felt the cost of running a business on Excel and email," said Shivaas Gulati, CEO of Arkero, " The opportunity exists because this is broken from the inside."

More on Washingtoner

• Max Tucci Makes His Highly-Anticipated Debut On QVC—unveiling A Bespoke Luxury Chocolate Collection Inspired By 100 Years Of Tucci Hospitality
• The Ms. Corporate America Maryland Competition Returns for an Unforgettable Evening of Leadership, Excellence, and Empowerment
• Tacoma: City Launches New Online Resource Hub to Support Immigrant and Refugee Community
• Precision Adult Care Expands 24/7 Adult In-Home Care Services to Meet Growing Demand in the Coachella Valley
• Metavalis Launches Massive Community Coat Drive in Branson to Support Local Residents

After leaving Remitly, the company he co-founded in 2022, Gulati joined the ownership group of English club Southend United FC, a 119-year-old club competing in the National League. Drawing on his hands-on experience from Southend United - and advising organizations such as the Seattle Sounders - Gulati has applied the operational discipline and best practices developed at Remitly to the global sports industry, a market exceeding $500 billion annually.

"On and off the pitch, our business is about constantly looking ahead to identify what we can do better and how we can use technology and the right partners to gain a competitive edge," said Sounders FC majority owner Adrian Hanauer.

https://arkero.ai/.