Machaxi Raises USD 1.5M to Expand AI Badminton Training

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 funding will help Machaxi scale its operations beyond Bengaluru into three new cities-Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai—while also building a nationwide framework for AI-powered 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.

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.

Prakash Padukone, Ace Indian Badminton player, added, “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.”

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, commented, “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.”

Since its founding, Machaxi has built a reputation as a pioneer in integrating technology with grassroots sports coaching. By combining AI-powered tools with on-ground coaching, Machaxi aims to address key challenges in India’s sports ecosystem — such as inconsistent coaching quality and limited access to professional training. With this funding and strategic partnership, Machaxi is poised to revolutionize grassroots badminton and inspire a new generation of athletes, setting new benchmarks for scalability, accessibility, and training excellence in Indian 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%. With the integration of generative AI and predictive analytics, the sector is transforming how sports are played, managed, and experienced, unlocking significant innovation and growth opportunities across the value chain for Machaxi.