Los Angeles, CA (October 21, 2026) — IDL (International Dance League, Inc.), the world’s first global professional dance league, today announced it has raised $15 million in Series A funding led by Elysian Park Ventures, with participation from Sony Group Corporation, Sony Corporation, KB Partners, APEX, Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, and October Ventures. 

The investment follows a breakout inaugural season for IDL, which launched in May 2026 with six founding teams representing cities around the world including Brotherhood (Vancouver), Quick Style (Oslo), Jam Republic (Singapore), 1MILLION (Seoul), Royal Family (Auckland), and GRV (Los Angeles) competing across events in New York, Vancouver, Sydney and Los Angeles. The season culminated at the sold-out Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, where Los Angeles GRV was crowned IDL’s first-ever Season Champion.

Across its first season, the league sold out six of six events, generated 2 billion views, secured its first media rights agreement with ESPN2, and partnered with leading global brands Honda and e.l.f. Cosmetics as it introduced a new professional sports model built around dance.

“This season proved what we believed from the beginning: dance has the audience, the athletes and the global culture to support a professional sports ecosystem of its own,” said Connor Lim, CEO, Commissioner and Co-Founder of IDL. “What has historically been missing is the infrastructure around it. This investment gives us the ability to continue to grow by building stronger team and dancer operations, hosting events in larger venues to meet fan demand, and ultimately creating a bigger stage for the sport.”

IDL brings a season-long championship model to competitive dance, giving fans a new way to follow the world’s best teams. Head-to-head matchups and season standings build rivalries and championship stakes across international events, putting dancers center stage as the stars of their own sport.

"IDL’s rapid growth and innovative strategy within sports remain key components to Elysian Park’s decision to once again participate in this fundraise," said Pete Vlastelica, Managing Partner from Elysian Park Ventures. "We are confident in the management team's ability to execute a long-term vision by finding new ways to disrupt the sports media landscape, while building a brand that captures the imagination of a next generation audience."

The new capital is supporting IDL as it completes the 2026 season and enters its next phase of growth. It is funding expanded tour operations, broadcast and digital production, stronger infrastructure for teams and dancers, new fan experiences, and the commercial ecosystem around professional dance for the 2027 season.

For more information on IDL, visit the website: https://www.idl.pro/. 

Additional Quotes

“IDL has demonstrated tremendous potential to engage global audiences in a unique way, and we are excited to explore opportunities for collaboration with IDL as it continues to evolve and builds a lasting presence in sports and entertainment,” said Kazuhito Hadano (Senior General Manager, Investment Management Division, Business Incubation Platform) from Sony Group Corporation.

Osamu Hajimoto (Senior General Manager, Creative Incubation Division) from Sony Corporation further commented, “IDL brings together world-class dancers and fans on a global stage, opening up new possibilities at the intersection of dance, technology and entertainment. We look forward to exploring new opportunities with IDL to create value for dancers, fans, and the broader dance culture through technology and creativity.”

"We're thrilled to back Connor and Evan as they build a first of its kind league, creating a path to pro for dancers around the world. Competitive dance combines global participation with universal creative expression, giving IDL immediate relevance across cultures and markets. IDL is well-positioned to break out in the new, clip-first era of media."  - Andrew Kahn, Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, Managing Partner

“Our investor base gives us the opportunity to attend many sporting events, and IDL’s season opener in NYC stood out immediately. The energy and constant interaction between fans and dancers made it one of the top three sporting events we’ve attended in person. IDL has demonstrated that dance has both the athletes to deliver memorable live experiences and the fan demand to support a professional league. This Series A gives the team the resources to build on that foundation, and we’re confident in their ability to turn that momentum into a sustainable, profitable business.” — Koen Bosma, Partner & Head of APEX

"Dancers are some of the best athletes in the world. Connor and his team at IDL built the stage and platform that these athletes deserve. We could not be more excited to be on the dance floor with this group of talented operators and investors." - Jesse Biddle, ex-MLB, General Partner @ October Ventures

About IDL

IDL is the world’s first global pro dance league, bringing competitive dance to a worldwide audience and putting dancers center stage. Its season-long championship model lets fans follow their favorite teams through head-to-head matchups and shifting standings as they compete for the IDL Championship. The league features 6 of the world’s best dance teams: 1MILLION (South Korea), Brotherhood (Canada), GRV (USA), Jam Republic (Southeast Asia), Royal Family (New Zealand), and Quick Style (Norway). IDL puts the talent shaping global music and culture in the spotlight. Launched in May 2026, IDL’s inaugural Season sold out all 6 events, generated 2 billion social views and 6 million livestream views, and secured a media rights agreement with ESPN2. All 6 teams return in 2027, with the schedule and host cities to be announced. Dance is our sport.