Agentiq Raises $4M to Launch Athlete Investment Platform

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Agentiq, a fintech platform that allows fans to indirectly invest in professional athletes' careers, has announced a $4 million funding round. The round was led by defy.vc, a Silicon Valley venture firm behind multiple breakout consumer and fintech companies, and a group led by the owner of two major European football clubs. The company believes the funding will accelerate its platform launch and allow it to scale its team and athlete pipeline.

Agentiq Sports, Inc., the company behind the platform, is creating a new way for fans to connect with athletes they believe in. The platform will give fans a way to back the athletes they support and share in their journey. Agentiq believes that the funding will help them achieve their goal of democratizing investment opportunities historically dominated by private equity and other institutional counterparties.

For too long, being a sports fan has meant paying an entertainment tax, according to Co-Founder and CEO Zach Kurtz. Betting apps, fantasy platforms, and prediction markets all monetize your passion and give you nothing durable in return. Agentiq is building the opposite. The platform gives fans a real stake and a real connection with the athletes they support.

Traditionally, private athlete-equity funds have operated behind closed doors, signing more than 2,000 athletes to long-term income-share agreements with limited transparency. Athletes early in their careers have had few options for accessing capital beyond traditional debt or these opaque private arrangements.

On Agentiq's platform, each athlete offering is conducted publicly through a designated series of a Delaware Series LLC. Under a Brand Advisory Agreement, the applicable Series provides the athlete with non-debt capital and brand advisory services in exchange for a defined percentage of covered future on-field Brand Income. By opening these athlete-linked offerings to everyday investors, the Agentiq platform aims to democratize investment opportunities historically dominated by private equity and other institutional counterparties.

Agentiq's initial athlete offerings are headlined by Justin Martinez, the 25-year-old flamethrowing closer of the Diamondbacks, and Esmerlyn Valdez, the 22-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder who has emerged as one of the most electric rookies in Major League Baseball. Through July 19, 2026, Valdez had already hit 12 home runs in 31 games. Valdez is a prime example of the type of athlete the Agentiq platform was designed for: a dynamic talent at the beginning of what could be a standout career.

In addition to Martinez and Valdez, Agentiq has signed Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins, Ronny Cruz, Carlos Virahonda, and hopes to have more than 50 athletes on the roster within the next 12 months. The company maintains a pipeline of more than 200 professional athletes across MLB, the NFL, and other major leagues.

Agentiq sits at the intersection of three compounding trends: fan engagement with financial products has gone mainstream, with more than 40 million Americans actively using platforms like Robinhood and Polymarket. The sports economy is at an all-time high, with league valuations, NIL deal volume, betting handle, and prediction-market activity all compounding for a decade. Private athlete-equity funds close 500+ deals per year, demonstrating strong demand for athlete-linked financial products.

Athletes are taking control of their economic futures, with NIL reshaping college sports and professional athletes increasingly viewing themselves as brands and businesses, not just players. Yet their options for non-debt capital remain limited to opaque private funds with rigid terms. Agentiq believes its model provides athletes with a transparent, fan-facing alternative.

Founded by Zach Kurtz (CEO, fintech veteran, former D1 baseball player at University of Richmond, owner of a sporting products company used by 50+ pro players) and Reuben Abraham (CTO, employee 10 at Pave, former NerdWallet, UPenn Jerome Fisher M&T and Wharton '17, UAE Cricket National Team), the team includes former professional players and agents, as well as former data scientists with experience working in MLB front offices. Agentiq is headquartered in New York.

Agentiq's initial athlete offerings are headlined by Justin Martinez, the 25-year-old flamethrowing closer of the Diamondbacks, and Esmerlyn Valdez, the 22-year-old Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder who has emerged as one of the most electric rookies in Major League Baseball. Through July 19, 2026, Valdez had already hit 12 home runs in 31 games. Valdez is a prime example of the type of athlete the Agentiq platform was designed for: a dynamic talent at the beginning of what could be a standout career.

In addition to Martinez and Valdez, Agentiq has signed Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins, Ronny Cruz, Carlos Virahonda, and hopes to have more than 50 athletes on the roster within the next 12 months. The company maintains a pipeline of more than 200 professional athletes across MLB, the NFL, and other major leagues.

Agentiq sits at the intersection of three compounding trends: fan engagement with financial products has gone mainstream, with more than 40 million Americans actively using platforms like Robinhood and Polymarket.