Key Highlights:
🔹 Strategic Expansion – Machaxi will extend its presence beyond Bengaluru, launching operations in Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai to widen its impact.
🔹 Nationwide Coaching Initiative – Partnering with the Padukone School of Badminton, Machaxi aims to establish 1,000+ coaching centers across India within the next four years.
🔹 AI-Driven Coaching System – Developing an advanced AI-based training platform to ensure consistent and high-quality coaching across all centers, regardless of location.
🔹 Grassroots Sports Development – Machaxi remains committed to accessible, structured coaching and sports infrastructure, empowering young athletes with technology-enabled training solutions.
Bengaluru, India – June 11, 2025 – Machaxi, a leading sports-tech company dedicated to grassroots coaching and digital sports infrastructure, has successfully 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.
Fueling Expansion & AI-Powered Coaching Innovation
With this strategic investment, Machaxi will expand beyond Bengaluru into three new cities—Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai—while also building a nationwide framework for AI-driven badminton coaching.
Nithin Kamath, Founder of Zerodha & Rainmatter, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership:
“Grassroots sports have the power to transform communities. Machaxi’s tech-enabled approach, paired with a strong on-ground strategy, aligns perfectly with Rainmatter’s mission to support sustainable and impactful ventures. We’re excited to back their growth journey.”
Machaxi x Padukone School of Badminton: Scaling Coaching Nationwide
As part of this expansion, Machaxi is collaborating with the Padukone School of Badminton to launch the “Machaxi x Padukone School of Badminton” initiative, which aims to set up over 1,000 coaching centers across India within the next four years. A central feature of this partnership is the introduction of AI-powered coaching systems, ensuring consistent, high-quality training regardless of location or expert coach availability.
Prakash Padukone, Indian Badminton Icon, commented:
“Structured grassroots development is the key to India’s badminton future. Machaxi’s AI-driven approach to scale coaching while maintaining quality is forward-thinking and impactful. I’m thrilled to support this initiative and help shape the next generation of champions.”
AI-Driven Coaching: Enhancing Training Standards & Accessibility
Machaxi’s AI coaching system is designed to complement, not replace, human coaching. It will standardize training quality, track athlete performance, and ensure that the coaching model remains scalable for nationwide implementation.
Pratish Raj, Co-founder, Machaxi, shared his vision:
“This partnership marks a major step toward making high-quality sports coaching accessible to every aspiring athlete in India. With the support of Rainmatter and the visionary guidance of Mr. Padukone, we’re committed to ensuring that talent is discovered, nurtured, and never overlooked. Our AI-powered model enables athletes to train with consistency, purpose, and access to world-class infrastructure.”
Driving Transformation in Indian Sports with AI & Digital Innovation
Since its founding, Machaxi has been a pioneer in integrating AI technology with grassroots coaching, addressing key challenges such as inconsistent training quality and limited access to professional sports development.
With this funding and strategic partnerships, Machaxi is set to redefine grassroots badminton, inspiring a new generation of athletes while setting benchmark standards for scalability, accessibility, and coaching excellence in Indian sports.
Industry Growth & AI’s Role in Sports Innovation
According to MarketsandMarkets, the global AI in Sports market was valued at $1.03 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $2.61 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 16.7%. The integration of generative AI and predictive analytics is reshaping sports training, management, and athlete development—presenting significant innovation opportunities for Machaxi as it scales its AI-powered coaching model.
