Pop and R&B star Jason Derulo has increased his stake in the Frisco- and Columbus, Ohio-based Pro Volleyball Federation, making “a major equity investment” in the league.

The amount of his investment was not disclosed.

Slated to serve up its inaugural season in February, the league is fielding seven teams: the Atlanta Vibe, the Columbus Fury, the Grand Rapids Rise, the Omaha Supernovas, the Orlando Valkyries, and a team in San Diego.

A Dallas franchise is slated to join the PVF in 2025.

Derulo’s new role as a league investor comes in addition to his position as a member of the ownership group of Pro Volleyball Federation’s Omaha Supernovas, the league noted. Dallas Innovates wrote about Derulo’s Omaha team ownership move last February.

“I knew when I joined Danny White and Chris Erickson as a partner in the Omaha Supernovas that I would have a blast just being a part of it,” Derulo said in a statement. “This has been a great experience for me, and I continue to be impressed by the growth, the vision, and the combined experience and expertise of everyone involved at both the team and the League levels.”

The Pro Volleyball Federation is slated to take the court in February 2024. [Photo: PVF]

“Over the past few months, I quickly grew to become a huge fan of what Pro Volleyball Federation is doing and accomplishing, and now I’m investing my time and resources to help make this the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America,” Derulo added.

Dave Whinham, co-founder of Pro Volleyball Federation, said the league is proud to have Derulo join it as an equity investor.

“Like so many of our founding partners, Jason isn’t in this just to have somewhere to invest his money—this is something he truly believes in, and he’s actively working to help build and advance the mission of our league,” Whinham said in a statement.

“Jason has proven that when he puts his efforts behind something, great results happen, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with Jason in a much larger scope,” he added.

Currently a judge on “The Voice Australia,” Derulo has sold more than 250 million singles worldwide and is the only solo artist to top the Billboard Pop Songs chart across the 2000s, 2010s, and the 2020s.

He’s also known as the King of TikTok, based on his more than 58 million followers and more than 1.3 billion likes on the platform. Derulo is also a regular performer on “America’s Got Talent.”

League’s launch was announced last November

The Pro Volleyball Federation was officially announced last November with founding partners including former Baltimore Ravens quarterback and Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer, with involvement from volleyball legends Dr. Cecile Reynaud and Laurie Corbelli and Team USA veteran Jenna Rosenthal.

In February, Atlanta was announced as the league’s third market, with Atlanta businesswoman Colleen Durham Craig as the PVF’s first female team owner. 

“Women’s professional volleyball is the largest untapped market in pro sports in the United States, and I’m so excited about what Pro Volleyball Federation is building,” Durham Craig said in a statement at the time. Craig is also the founder and CEO of Rally Sports Management.

Inaugural season kicks off in February

Pro Volleyball Federation is the premier women’s professional volleyball league in North America. It will begin serving up play in February, with seven teams each playing a 24-match regular season schedule.

The season will culminate with a Final Four-type championship weekend in mid-May where it will crown the inaugural season champion, the league said.

In addition to the seven teams for 2024, Pro Volleyball Federation has already sold three additional teams that will begin play in 2025.

Other high-profile investors in the league include NFL quarterback Joe Burrow and his parents Jimmy and Robin Burrow, and five-time Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings.

The league said more than $150 million has been committed to Pro Volleyball Federation by its equity holders and team owners.

‘At the brink of something great’

The league said that to date, its teams have signed many of the best American volleyball players as well as outstanding players from overseas.

So far, Pro Volleyball Federation teams have signed 81 players who have a combined 357 years of professional volleyball experience (average of 4.4 years per player).

The league said that of those 81 players, eight are international players (teams are allowed up to two international players on their roster during the season) and 10 are American athletes currently with the U.S. National Team.

Also, 35 of the players signed have been part of an Olympic/National Team during their volleyball careers, 49 are American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Americans, and 72 were All-Conference players collegiately.

“This league has accomplished so much in just a short period of time and is now at the brink of something great,” Derulo said. “We’re doing it the right way. Our only focus is on the professional game, and we’re bringing the highest level of women’s pro volleyball to this country.”

David Seeley contributed to this report.

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