Sharp Performance Secures $18M in Series A Funding

Sharp Performance, a Carlsbad, CA-based provider of a confidential performance coaching platform for first responders from the academy through retirement, has raised $18 million in a Series A funding round, bringing the total amount to $30 million.

The round was led by Hidden Variable with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Commonweal Ventures, Wolfson Group, FJ Labs, and the Ford Foundation.

The company will use the funding to expand into more departments and states, improve its mobile app and coaching platform, and develop additional products for first responders.

What is Sharp Performance?

Sharp Performance provides confidential, one-on-one coaching for police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel throughout their careers.

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Each member is matched with a coach who has experience as a first responder or in special operations. Coaches help members manage stress, improve performance, and navigate career changes such as promotions, returning from leave, and retirement.

Members can change coaches if their goals or needs change. The platform also helps users schedule sessions around their shifts and offers guided breathing exercises and physical recovery techniques.

Sharp Performance provides departments with anonymized reports while keeping individual coaching confidential.

How Much Funding Has Sharp Performance Raised?

Sharp Performance has raised $18 million in its latest Series A funding round, bringing its total funding to $30 million.

Who Invested in Sharp Performance’s Series A Round?

The $18 million Series A round was led by Hidden Variable.

Other participating investors include:

• Andreessen Horowitz
• Commonweal Ventures
• Wolfson Group
• FJ Labs
• The Ford Foundation

Why the Funding Matters

Sharp Performance will use the funding to expand its services into more departments and states.

The company also plans to improve its mobile app and coaching platform and develop additional products and software to support the health and performance of first responders.

Who founded Sharp Performance?

Sharp Performance was founded in 2023 by Ben Curley and Andrew Sakmar. The company is based in Carlsbad, California.

"Public safety professionals have some of the most important and challenging jobs, yet they've had little access to people outside of their departments who can help them perform their best," said Mackey Craven of Hidden Variable.

"When we started Sharp, everyone told us the same thing: cops and firefighters will not talk to anyone," said Ben Curley, co-founder and CEO of Sharp. "They were only half right. They won't talk to just anyone, but they will talk to someone who's been where they've been and isn't evaluating them."

Market and Business Growth

The number of police, fire, and EMS departments offering Sharp Performance to their members has more than doubled over the past year, reaching more than 110 departments.

Members have booked more than 16,000 coaching sessions. The company has also built a network of more than 60 coaches, including former police officers, firefighters, paramedics, Navy SEALs, and Green Berets.

Its platform supports coach matching, shift-based scheduling, and anonymized reporting for departments.

What Happens Next?

Sharp Performance plans to expand its reach across more states and first responder departments while improving its coaching platform and mobile app.

The company will also develop additional products to support first responders' health, career development, and long-term performance.

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