Sharp Performance, a coaching and training marketplace for first responders, has raised US$18 million in a Series A round led by Hidden Variable. The round also drew participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Commonweal Ventures, Wolfson Group, FJ Labs, and the Ford Foundation. With this latest investment, the company's total funding has reached US$30 million, and it plans to bring confidential coaching to more public safety professionals across the United States.
Closing the Coaching Gap for Public Safety
Most patrol officers complete academy training and on-duty instruction before driving home with their hardest calls still running through their minds. Firefighters learn to throw ladders and stretch lines, yet they often spend long tours where sleep is interrupted at any hour. Sharp was created to give these professionals the same type of dedicated coaching that special operations forces and elite athletes receive throughout their careers.
How the Sharp Coaching Marketplace Works
Sharp matches every member one-on-one with a coach who aligns with their background and career goals. If those goals change or the fit is not right, members can switch coaches without starting over. The company's roster includes more than 60 coaches, each recruited, vetted, and trained individually, including former police officers, detectives, firefighters, paramedics, Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and chiefs who coach chiefs.
Technology and Department Integration
Between sessions, the Sharp app provides guided breathing exercises and physical resets used by United States special operations forces and elite athletes. The platform schedules sessions around shift work, matches members with coaches in minutes, and gives departments anonymized reporting. Sharp is designed to complement existing wellness, peer support, and clinical programs rather than replace them.
Growth and Leader Support
Sharp has more than doubled its department partners in the past year to over 110 agencies across 18 states, and members have booked more than 16,000 coaching sessions. Captain Miguel Ibarra of the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said he cannot imagine doing his job without Sharp coaching. Former Redondo Beach Fire Department Chief Patrick Butler called Sharp the most important resource for firefighter health and safety in his three decades in the fire service.
Funding Priorities
The Series A capital will help Sharp bring its coaching marketplace to more departments and states, expanding access for first responders across the country. The company also plans to improve its mobile app and coaching platform to deliver a stronger member experience. Additional products and software will be built to support the health and performance of public safety professionals.
Founder and Investor Perspectives
Mackey Craven of Hidden Variable noted that public safety professionals have long lacked access to outside support that can help them perform at their best. Co-founder and CEO Ben Curley said first responders will speak with coaches who have shared their experiences and are not evaluating them. Co-founder Andrew Sakmar, a former Green Beret, added that coaching first responders is a way for many veterans to keep serving.
With this new Series A funding, Sharp Performance is positioned to extend its model of confidential coaching to more first responders nationwide. The company's growth in department partnerships and coaching sessions suggests strong demand for support delivered by people with lived experience in high-risk occupations. Sharp's investors and leadership view the platform as a way to help public safety professionals perform at their best throughout long and demanding careers.