Key facts
- Poolhouse, a startup by Topgolf founders, has raised $55 million in seed funding.
- The company uses technology to track player scores and enhance the pool-playing experience.
- The funding will be used for technology development, market expansion, and opening new venues.
- Poolhouse aims to combine high-tech gaming with upscale food and a social atmosphere.
- The first venue is planned for London, with U.S. expansion to follow.
Poolhouse, a startup founded by the brothers behind Topgolf, has raised $55 million in seed funding to develop and expand its high-tech pool hall concept. The company aims to replicate the success of Topgolf by infusing technology into the game of pool, creating an enhanced social entertainment experience.
The venture, co-led by Sharp Alpha and dmg ventures, also saw investment from David Blitzer, Simon Sports, and Active Partners. The funds will be used to further develop Poolhouse's proprietary technology, which includes sensors and smart systems to track shots, automatically score games, and enable augmented reality challenges. This technology is designed to make pool more accessible and competitive for players of all skill levels.
Poolhouse venues will combine this interactive gaming experience with upscale food and beverage offerings, aiming for a vibrant, social club atmosphere. The drink menu is being developed by the Venning brothers of London's Three Sheets cocktail bar, and a former Gordon Ramsay executive chef is leading the kitchen team.
The first Poolhouse location is slated to open in London near Liverpool Street Station early next year. Following this launch, the company plans to expand into the U.S., with two venues scheduled for late 2026 and early 2027, followed by four to five new locations annually starting in 2027.
The Jolliffe brothers, who founded Topgolf in 2000 and later merged it with Callaway for $2.1 billion, also founded Puttshack, a miniature golf concept that raised $150 million from Blackrock. Andrew O’Brien, CEO of Poolhouse, emphasized the founders' strength in patenting difficult-to-replicate technology, a strategy they are applying to Poolhouse.