India has always been very involved in the world of sport, from playing and spectating to producing equipment and launching sports tech startups in the last decade.
The country is actively working towards establishing itself as a global sporting powerhouse in order to improve national health, education, tourism and more, and their efforts seem to be working.
According to Statista, the industry has been consistently growing, having experienced 11% growth from 2022 to 2023. Indeed, this growth is expected to continue, with a projected market volume of nearly $22 million by 2029.
The country’s most popular sport is, unsurprisingly, cricket, closely followed by football, field hockey, badminton and kabaddi, a local sport that can be compared to seven-aside rugby in terms of contact (although it’s certainly not the same). India has also made a name for itself in the manufacturing of sports equipment and apparel.
Top 10 Sports Tech Startups in India
As the global industry continues to grow, the number of sports tech startups coming out of India is on the rise, developing sports management software, high-tech equipment, modern apparel, and AI-generated coaching platforms that are competing in the global market.
Here are the top 10 sports tech startups from all over India.
1. Rooter
Founded in New Delhi in 2016, Rooter is a sports tech startup that aims to bring sports fans and spectators together via a digital platform. Covering eight different sports, including cricket, baseball, football, Formula 1, tennis, kabaddi, hockey and badminton, Rooter gives sports fans the opportunity to engage with each other by means of chat rooms, social feeds and fantasy leagues.
The startup was founded by Piyush Kumar, Akshat Goel, Dipesh Agarwal and Soham Sinha, and through nine rounds of funding, Rooter has received a total of $50 million in investment. As of May 2023, the company was worth an impressive $82 million.
2. SportJacks
Sport Jacks aims to revolutionise the landscape of sport in India, providing users with a platform access and engage with players, coaches, recruiters and more. The idea behind Sport Jacks is to create a large, tech-enabled virtual sporting community.
Founded in New Delhi in 2023, Sport Jacks also provides a platform for players and more to access sporting goods and equipment effectively and efficiently.
3. Worldstage
Worldstage is an Indian sports tech startup that was founded in Bangalore, India in 2023. The business aims to use an advanced content management system (CMS) to enable players, coaches, clubs and organisations to properly manage and market themselves.
The company uses cutting-edge technology, including AI-featured tools, to help teams elevate its online presence in a way that is both effective and efficient.
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4. Ahura Sports
Ahura Sports was founded in Hyderabad, India in 2013 and it operates as an advanced e-commerce platform providing sportsmen and sportswomen with the best sporting equipment on the market.
Manufacturing their own products, including cricket bands, spikes and plenty of other accessories, Ahura Sports is committed to creating and selling only the best in high-tech sports equipment and apparel. The startup was founded by Kushal Jilla who has since gone on to become the company’s CEO.
5. Sportvot
Sportvot, founded in Mumbai in 2019, aims to increase live coverage of all sports in a way that is not only effective and useful but cost-effective too. By providing over-the-top media service, Sportvot allows for live streaming, audience engagement brand sponsorship and more.
By means of cloud-based software, the startup allows for the production of interactive, multi-camera angle broadcasts boasting premium TV-grade graphics. This single piece of software also allows for live scoring and interactive commentary, making the experience more interactive and increasing engagement.
The most significant advantage offered by Spotvot is that all it needs to function is a single smartphone and an internet connection, making all sports, both the big ones and the less popular ones, accessible to all.
6. Stupa Sports Analytics
Stupa Sport Analytics is an Indian-based tech startup that is working towards enhancing the performance of athletes as well as enhancing the spectator and fan experience.
Founded in Delhi in 2019, this startup offers players and coaches analytical solutions for improving athletic ability and game strategy. The company uses AI, VR, AR, predictive analytics and more to improve sport and the viewing thereof, as well as event management, live streaming and more.
7. Footrax
Having raised a significant amount of capital from a variety of investors, including the Government of India, Footrax, previously known as Indifoot Sport, is designing and manufacturing high-tech IoT devices that are accessible to all.
The startup was founded in Ahmadabad in 2017 and is creating performance-tracking technology and devices that aren’t exorbitantly expensive, making them accessible to non-professional athletes as well as young people hoping to track and improve performance.
Footrax’s GPS-enabled wearables allow for the tracking of acceleration, work rate, sprint speed and more, allowing athletes to track their progress and improve performance accordingly by means of data-driven decisions.
8. KIBI Sports
Khelega India To Badhega India, more commonly known as KIBI Sports, is intended to be a one-stop-shop for sports management, sport-related e-commerce, fantasy sports and spectator engagement. The startup was founded in 2020 in Pune, India.
The idea behind KIBI Sports is to bridge the gaps between various sectors of the sporting industry, from athletes and coaches to stakeholders and organisers.
Sagar Rai, the startup’s founder and CEO, asserts that the idea behind the growing business is to democratise the sporting industry.
9. Coney Sports Private Limited
Coney Sports Private Limited is an advanced tech startup providing users with an all-around digital platform for sports organisation, including scheduling, scoring and other spectator features.
Having started off serving the cricket community, Coney Sports was founded in Jaipur, India in 2022, and is now moving towards other sports including volleyball, Kabaddi and racquet sports, as well as having its own digital marketplace.
10. HomeGround Cricket Analytics
HomeGround Cricket Analytics was launched in 2020 in Hyderabad, India and has managed to raise funds from a variety of different types of investors.
The AI-based platform provides cricket players and coaches with access to performance-enhancing tools including coaching videos. It also serves as a means for players and coaches to connect virtually and receive and provide advice and input online. Without requiring wearable technology, HomeGround Cricket Analytics allows players to track, monitor and share their performance in order to receive expert feedback.
The idea behind this sports tech startup is to bridge the gap between professional and amateur sports, providing amateurs with high-quality coaching and guidance that has previously been inaccessible.
