Machaxi, a sports-tech company focused on grassroots coaching and digital sports infrastructure, has raised $1.5 million in a round led by Rainmatter, the investment initiative of Zerodha. The round also saw participation from Indian badminton legend Prakash Padukone and existing investors.
The funds raised will be used to scale its operations beyond Bengaluru into three new cities- Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai—while also building a nationwide framework for AI-powered badminton coaching.
Previously in June 2024, Machaxi raised ₹4.8 crore in a pre-Series A funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV).
Founded in 2019 by Pratish Raj and Ankit Raj, Machaxi offers training programs with an advanced coaching curriculum that ensures consistent, high-quality coaching regardless of geography.
As part of the expansion, Machaxi is 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. A key feature of this partnership is the rollout of an AI-based coaching system that will help maintain consistency in training, regardless of geography or availability of expert coaches.
The company’s AI coaching system is designed not to replace human coaches, but to standardize training quality, assist in performance tracking, and ensure that the coaching model remains scalable.
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 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. We’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift in grassroots sports.”
Nithin Kamath, Founder of Zerodha and Rainmatter, said, “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.”
Prakash Padukone, Ace Indian Badminton player, said, “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.”
