Machaxi is a sports technology startup that helps improve coaching and sports facilities at the local level. They have raised $1.5 million in funding. The leading investor is Rainmatter, which is part of Zerodha. Indian badminton star Prakash Padukone and some previous investors also joined this funding round.
The money raised will help Machaxi grow its business from Bengaluru to three more cities: Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai. They will also work on creating a country-wide system for AI-based badminton coaching.
“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.
Machaxi started in 2022 and is working with the Padukone School of Badminton to create the “Machaxi x Padukone School of Badminton” program.
Their goal is to set up more than 1,000 coaching centers all over India in the next four years. They want to use AI technology to make sure training is consistent, no matter where you live or if expert coaches are nearby.
“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 of 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%.
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