Sports‑tech startup Machaxi has secured $1.5 million in fresh funding to accelerate its grassroots coaching platform and digital sports infrastructure across India.
The round was led by Rainmatter, Zerodha’s investment arm, and featured participation from Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone alongside Machaxi’s existing backers.
Machaxi plans to deploy the capital to expand beyond its Bengaluru base into Hyderabad, Pune and Chennai, while building a nationwide framework for AI‑powered badminton coaching. Under the “Machaxi × Padukone School of Badminton” initiative, the company aims to establish more than 1,000 coaching centres across India within the next four years.
“We’ve always believed in the power of grassroots sports to transform communities,” said Nithin Kamath, founder of Zerodha and Rainmatter. “Machaxi’s tech‑driven approach to coaching, combined with a solid on‑ground strategy, aligns perfectly with our mission to back sustainable and impactful ventures. We’re excited to support them on this journey.”
A cornerstone of the partnership is an AI‑based coaching system designed to standardise training quality, assist in performance tracking and ensure scalability without replacing human coaches. “I’ve always believed that the future of Indian badminton lies in structured grassroots development,” added Prakash Padukone. “Machaxi’s vision to scale coaching while maintaining quality through AI is forward‑thinking and impactful. I’m thrilled to partner with them in shaping the next generation of champions.”
Co‑founder Pratish Raj emphasised the company’s mission to democratise sports coaching: “With the support of Rainmatter and the visionary backing of Mr. Padukone, we’re working toward a future where every aspiring athlete no matter where they come from can train with consistency, purpose and access to world‑class infrastructure. Our AI‑powered model is built to ensure that potential is discovered and nurtured, not overlooked.”
Since its inception, Machaxi has positioned itself at the forefront of integrating AI with grassroots sports coaching, tackling challenges such as inconsistent training quality and limited access to professional guidance. Industry analysts at MarketsandMarkets value the global AI in sports market at $1.03 billion in 2024, forecasting growth to $2.61 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 16.7 percent, a trend Machaxi hopes to ride as it revolutionises grassroots badminton across India.
