A Northern Ireland–based investor group has made a majority strategic investment in Obbi Club, a governance platform designed to help sports clubs manage compliance, risk and operational standards across multiple sites.
The investment group is led by Paul McElvaney, founder of workplace learning company Learning Pool. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Paul McElvaney, Leap Lead Investor and Gareth Macklin, Founder, Obbi Club
Obbi Club provides software that connects daily operational tasks—such as safety checks, staff training and incident reporting—to compliance requirements. The platform is positioned as a tool for clubs facing rising insurance costs, more frequent audits and increasing expectations around risk management and documentation.
According to McElvaney, many clubs still rely on manual processes and periodic inspections to manage compliance obligations, creating gaps in visibility and consistency. Obbi’s platform aims to create a continuous record of operational activity that can be shared with auditors or insurers when needed.
The new funding will support development of additional artificial intelligence features, including automated onboarding tools, policy management capabilities and real-time insights into compliance performance across multiple locations.
Founder Gareth Macklin said the platform was developed in response to increasing regulatory expectations in hospitality environments, where clubs must balance safety requirements, staff training, member experience and financial performance.
Obbi Club is headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and works with a range of private clubs internationally, including Roehampton Multi-Sports Club, Avalon Yacht Club, Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club and Cottesmore Country Club.
The transaction was supported by Techstart Ventures and advisory firm Beltrae Partners, with legal services provided by Tughans LLP and Millar McCall Wylie.
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