Former Indian cricket legend Zaheer Khan has joined Ecosystem Ventures in a Pre-Series A investment round for the sports tech startup, Machaxi. Founded by Pratish Raj, Tushar Raj, and Ashish Anand, Machaxi is aiming to transform sports engagement through an innovative leasing model. The company acquires existing private sports centers, then rebrands, upgrades, and optimizes them with top-tier infrastructure and cutting-edge technology, creating vibrant hubs for sports enthusiasts.
Machaxi’s primary goal is to expand sports participation across the country. The company utilizes a multifaceted approach, including collaborations with schools, community outreach initiatives, and establishing localized dominance within sports centers. This strategy helps in attracting and retaining young athletes. Currently, Machaxi provides training to over 2,000 children each month across its 25 centers located in Bangalore. The partnership with Olympian Nisha Millet has further enhanced their training programs and facility standards.
Zaheer Khan expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Sports is driven by passion, discipline, and a sense of community. Machaxi’s concept of offering quality sports facilities with smart tech solutions deeply resonates with me. I am delighted to support their mission and contribute to developing a more robust sports ecosystem in India.”
Nikhil Kaushik, a Partner at Ecosystem Ventures, added, “At ESV, our investments go beyond capital; we also contribute thought leadership, connections, and purpose. The involvement of Zaheer Khan is significant, not just for his name, but for his demonstrated passion in the field of sports and his capacity to motivate. We believe the right investors bring credibility along with vision. With Zaheer as an anchor investor, Machaxi is poised to make an even greater impact on India’s sports scene.”
About Ecosystem Ventures:
Ecosystem Ventures (ESV) is an early-stage investment fund that invests between $250,000 to $1 million in Pre-Series A rounds. Founded in 2020 by Abhishek Sanghvi, ESV has made 19 investments with an exceptional track record, achieving a portfolio-level Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of over 50% without any write-offs to date.
