Partnership Announcement: Elevate Ultimate Academy

We are elated to announce our new partnership with an amazing organization we've had our eye on since their inception. Elevate Ultimate Academy, based out of Vancouver, is a company passionate about teaching young athletes values through sport. Leadership training, summer camps and an academy program are just some of the programs Elevate are currently offering. 

We asked Danie Proby and Ari Nitikman, co-founders of Elevate Ultimate Academy, a few questions as we embark on this journey of spreading ultimate together.

Can you tell the VC community what Elevate is?

Elevate Ultimate Academy provides high-quality ultimate programs for athletes aged 5-19 and leadership training for high school students. The dream and vision is to have Elevate programs all over the world; however, our goal every day, no matter where we are, is to teach values such as honesty, teamwork, and sportspersonship to the athletes we coach

What motivated you to partner with VC?

We love that VC is value-driven, and how well-established they are in the national and international ultimate community.  We love how they push for equity, are inclusive in their business and how they operate, and how they strategically partner with other organizations that do good. We strive to be the best ultimate program for youth in the world, and we know VC's network can help us get there.

What's your favourite part of running a company like Elevate?

Both of us (Danie and Ari, founders of Elevate) have very different roles, so we each have our own answer.

Ari: I love that my role changes all the time. Sometimes, I'm a full-time coach. Other times, I'm a full-time sales and marketing manager. I'm even sometimes the accountant (albeit a terrible one). Elevate keeps me on my toes, and there is always room to be creative.

Danie: Elevate has given me a ton of opportunities to grow. I have been pushed to create curriculums that challenge kids at all skill and age levels and I love seeing the games and drills translate into better athletes on and off the field.  I have found a career that helps me be creative while doing what I love: working with young people. I used to be terrified of small children and only worked with high school students, but now I love watching 8-year-olds throw full field flicks.

Anything else you want to say?

Watch out world: The next generation of Ultimate players are coming for your roster spots.

Ari and Danie, founders of Elevate Academy