Avoli, the pioneering athletic brand solely focused on the performance needs of women and girl volleyball players, has successfully closed its initial funding round, surpassing its $1.5M target with a total of $2.1M raised. The funding, sourced from a diverse group of investors including footwear innovators, volleyball experts, and professional backers, will support Avoli’s growth initiatives such as strategic hires, enhanced brand marketing, and expanding the availability of its top-tier footwear.
Notable angel investors include Ho Nam, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Altos Ventures; Blythe Jack, former Managing Director at TSG Consumer Partners and Rosewood Capital; and Pete Saperstone, Partner at Greycroft Partners.
In addition, Avoli has partnered with SCHEELS, a leading sports retailer, to exclusively offer Avoli footwear at select SCHEELS locations across the U.S. The Avoli VOL I and VOL II styles are now available at SCHEELS stores in Billings, MT; Boise, ID; Eden Prairie, MN; Johnstown, CO; Lincoln, NE; Omaha, NE; Overland Park, KS; and The Colony, TX (Dallas).
Rick Anguilla, Co-founder of Avoli, stated, “The response to our footwear in the volleyball community has been exceptional in our first year. Partnering with SCHEELS will make our products more accessible to women and girl athletes nationwide. SCHEELS’ commitment to quality and customer experience aligns perfectly with our mission, and we’re excited to grow the sport of volleyball together.”
With volleyball being the most popular team sport for girls in the U.S., this partnership will provide easy access to high-performance footwear tailored to the sport’s specific demands.
SCHEELS expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting, “We are thrilled to partner with Avoli and bring their top-quality volleyball footwear to our stores across the U.S. This partnership will introduce our customers to products designed specifically for women and girl athletes.”
Avoli has also signed three prominent women’s college volleyball athletes—Anna DeBeer (University of Louisville), Lauren Briseño (Baylor University), and Alia Williams (University of Dayton)—to feature in its “Hits Different” marketing campaign. Throughout the 2024 volleyball season, Avoli will collaborate with a range of current and former professional and college players on various initiatives including content creation, affiliate marketing, events, and product feedback. Additional athletes such as Marianna Singletary (University of Texas) and Delayanie Maple (Indiana University) will also be involved.
For more information on Avoli and its volleyball footwear, visit avoli.com.
ABOUT AVOLI
Founded in 2023 in Portland, Oregon, Avoli is the sole brand dedicated exclusively to the needs and aspirations of women and girl volleyball athletes. Avoli designs volleyball footwear, apparel, and equipment to meet the specific needs of female athletes on the court, while fostering the growth and culture of volleyball.
