Michezo Sports raises $2.5 million in funding from Centre Court Capital, Zerodha's Rainmatter

Bengaluru-based Michezo Sports has raised $2.5 million (around Rs 21 crore) in a pre-Series A funding round led by Centre Court Capital, a venture capital firm focused on sports and gaming, with participation from Rainmatter, the investment arm of Zerodha.

Advertisment

Founded in 2019 by former professional tennis player Maharishi Sridhar, Michezo claims to have completed more than 350 projects for over 175 clients across the country. The startup designs, builds, and maintains sports facilities that it claims meet global standards set by federations such as FIFA, FIH, ITF, and World Athletics.

Its portfolio includes athletic tracks, football and hockey pitches, badminton, squash, basketball, and volleyball courts, as well as padel and pickleball arenas installed in club facilities, educational institutions, and real-estate developments.

The startup plans to use the fresh capital to expand into new infrastructure verticals, such as swimming pools and public-sports facilities, and to strengthen its distribution platform for sports construction materials and equipment. It is also exploring public-private partnerships to help state governments develop accessible community-level sports infrastructure.

“As a former professional tennis player, I experienced the difference in good sports infrastructure made to an athlete’s journey, and the frustration when it was inaccessible. The industry today remains largely informal and fragmented. Michezo was founded with the long-term vision to bring player-centricity, professionalism, formal organization, and governance to a sector that has remained on the sidelines of India’s growth story,” said Maharishi Sridhar.

Nithin Kamath, Founder and CEO, Rainmatter, said, “Sports is a way to build a healthier India, and for that, we need more sports infrastructure that is available and accessible to all. We believe infrastructure is the backbone of any sporting culture, and now is the moment to build it right.”