The New Face of Sports Recruitment: Built by Athletes, for Athletes

NATIONWIDE - OCTOBER 2025 - (USAnews.com) In a quiet rink in Europe, a young hockey player once dreamed of being noticed. The talent was always there,  but for many athletes, the path wasn’t clear. GRAET is changing that, making recruitment more transparent, accessible, and powered by technology. What began as a frustration for athletes has become a movement,  unlocking doors that were once out of reach.

That spark came from Kroni Hope, a former athlete who saw a better way. Today, his company is reshaping how athletes, coaches, scouts, and agents connect in the digital age.

From Vision to Reality

Founded in Europe and now headquartered in San Francisco, GRAET is on a mission to build the LinkedIn for sports, a platform where athletes control their journey, showcase their talents, and connect directly with recruiters, while giving sports professionals smarter tools to discover the right players. With more than 80,000 active users, GRAET’s mobile-first platform lets athletes highlight their stats, videos, and milestones in one place ,  and it’s quickly becoming the preferred destination for discovery in sports.

What sets GRAET apart is its philosophy: it doesn’t replace the traditional recruitment system ,  it enhances it. By making data, highlights, and verified profiles instantly accessible, the platform gives athletes a voice and helps coaches and scouts evaluate talent with unprecedented efficiency.

“We’re building the infrastructure of modern sports recruitment,” says Daniela Hope, GRAET’s CMO. “For the first time, athletes, coaches, scouts and agents can connect through one intelligent system that’s designed for transparency and opportunity.”

Building a Platform for the Next Generation

At its core, GRAET operates like a dynamic social network built specifically for athletes. Profiles are mobile-optimized, fast, and interactive,  allowing players to present themselves not just as statistics, but as complete athletes with stories, highlights, and ambition.

For recruiters, it’s a powerful, organized, and visual environment that accelerates discovery. This approach has already made waves in the hockey community, where young players often struggle for visibility,  but GRAET’s vision goes far beyond one sport. The company is actively expanding into other team sports, setting the stage to become a universal platform for athlete recruitment.

Turning Points and Breakthroughs

Like any bold venture, the path has had its challenges. Kroni and his team raised their first $400,000 in pre-seed funding with just a concept. Since then, GRAET has proven that technology can bridge a long-standing gap ,  empowering athletes to showcase their talent while helping professionals discover them faster and with better data.

By giving athletes the tools to tell their stories and helping professionals find top talent seamlessly, GRAET supports the growth and success of both athletes and the sports professionals who help guide their careers.

“With GRAET Premium, we’re changing the economics of recruitment,” says Kroni Hope, GRAET’s Founder and CEO. “For the price of a streaming subscription, athletes can finally access the same professional support that used to cost thousands.”

This mission has resonated across the sports industry. With backing from strategic investors, including the owner of a prominent European soccer club, GRAET is now positioning itself as Silicon Valley’s AI sports company. The team is actively hiring AI engineers to develop advanced matching and analytics features ,  cementing its place at the forefront of sports technology.

A Movement That Supports Families and Professionals

For families navigating the complex world of youth sports, GRAET is introducing Blue,  an AI-powered personal sports companion designed to guide every athlete through their journey. Blue acts as a virtual coach, nutritionist, and career mentor, helping players make smarter choices both on and off the ice.

From building confidence to optimizing performance, Blue provides insights that used to be reserved for elite programs,  now available to every athlete, right from their phone. With tailored advice, motivational feedback, and smart recommendations, GRAET makes professional-level support accessible for the price of a streaming subscription.

At the same time, agents, coaches, and scouts benefit from deeper insights into player development. GRAET’s AI infrastructure organizes data, progress, and performance signals ,  helping professionals connect with talent more intelligently and efficiently than ever before.

The Future of Sports Recruitment

With momentum building, GRAET’s story is only beginning. Its rapidly growing user base, investor confidence, and expansion into new sports signal the rise of a company that’s more than just an app,  it’s redefining how the sports world operates.

Now based in San Francisco, the team is preparing for its next stage of growth, engaging with select investors and strategic partners as GRAET scales its AI technology globally.

If you’re an athlete looking to control your career, a parent eager to support your child’s journey, or a sports professional ready to discover talent more effectively, GRAET is your next step. Join the movement at GRAET and follow them on Instagram for the latest updates, because in this new era of sports recruitment, your story deserves to be seen.