IDL (International Dance League), a Los Angeles-based professional dance league, has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Elysian Park Ventures.
The round also included participation from Sony Group Corporation, Sony Corporation, KB Partners, APEX, Yamaha Music Innovations Fund, and October Ventures. The financing brings IDL’s total disclosed funding to $22 million.
Founded in 2025 by Connor Lim and Evan Zhou, IDL operates a professional dance competition platform structured around international teams, head-to-head matchups, season standings, and a championship.
The league combines live competitions, media distribution, brand partnerships, and fan engagement to provide a professional competition framework for dancers. Its format allows teams to compete across multiple events during a season rather than participating exclusively in standalone competitions.
IDL launched its inaugural competitive season in May 2026 with six teams: Brotherhood from Vancouver, Quick Style from Oslo, Jam Republic from Singapore, 1MILLION from Seoul, Royal Family from Auckland, and GRV from Los Angeles.
According to the company, all six events during the inaugural season sold out, generating 2 billion social media views and 6 million livestream views. The league also secured a media rights agreement with ESPN2 and established commercial partnerships with Honda and e.l.f. Cosmetics.
The season concluded in September 2026, with Los Angeles-based GRV winning the inaugural championship at the Shrine Expo Hall.
Before the Series A, IDL secured $7 million in seed funding in November 2025, also led by Elysian Park Ventures, with participation from KB Partners, APEX, and individual investors.
IDL plans to use the Series A capital to expand international tour operations, increase broadcast and digital production capabilities, strengthen operational support for teams and dancers, and develop additional fan experiences.
The investment will also support larger live events and commercial partnerships as the league prepares for its 2027 season.
