Zerodha's Rainmatter, others invests $1.5 million in sportstech startup Machaxi

Machaxi, a sportstech startup focused on grassroots coaching and digital sports infrastructure, has raised $1.5 million in a funding round led by Rainmatter, the investment arm of Zerodha. The round also saw participation from Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone and existing investors.

The funding will help Machaxi scale its operations beyond Bengaluru into three new cities, including Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai, while also building a nationwide framework for AI-powered badminton coaching, as per the statement.

“We’ve always believed in the power of grassroots sports to transform communities. Machaxi’s tech-driven approach to coaching, combined with a solid on-ground strategy, aligns perfectly with our mission at Rainmatter to back sustainable and impactful ventures. We’re excited to support them on this journey,” said Nithin Kamath, Founder of Zerodha and Rainmatter.

Founded in 2022, the startup is also collaborating with the Padukone School of Badminton to launch the “Machaxi x Padukone School of Badminton” program. The initiative aims to establish over 1,000 coaching centres across India within the next four years. It aims to roll out an AI-based coaching system to help maintain consistency in training, regardless of geography or availability of expert coaches.

"I’ve always believed that the future of Indian badminton lies in structured grassroots development. 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," said Prakash Padukone, an Ace Indian Badminton player.

Pratish Raj, Co-founder, Machaxi, said, “This partnership is a big step forward in our mission to make quality sports coaching accessible to everyone in India. With the support of Rainmatter and the visionary backing of 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. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift in grassroots sports.”

According to a recent survey report by MarketsandMarkets, the global AI in Sports market was valued at $1.03 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $2.61 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 16.7%.