New Delhi, India – March 25, 2025: Former cricketing star Zaheer Khan has joined Ecosystem Ventures’ Pre-Series A investment round in Machaxi, a sports tech startup. Founded by Pratish Raj, Tushar Raj, and Ashish Anand, Machaxi is changing the landscape of sports engagement. The company uses a unique leasing model to acquire private sports centers. These centers are then rebranded, upgraded with state-of-the-art infrastructure, and optimized for athletes. This creates hubs for sports enthusiasts aiming to increase sports participation across the country.
Machaxi attracts and retains young athletes through school partnerships, community outreach, and by dominating local sports center markets. Currently, Machaxi runs 25 centers in Bangalore and trains over 2,000 children each month. The company has also teamed up with Olympian Nisha Millet, setting new benchmarks in sports training and facilities.
Zaheer Khan shared his enthusiasm about the investment, stating, “Sports are about passion, discipline, and community. Machaxi’s vision of making quality sports facilities accessible through smart tech solutions deeply resonates with me. I’m excited to be part of their journey and contribute to building a stronger sports ecosystem in India.”
Nikhil Kaushik, Partner at Ecosystem Ventures, added, “At ESV, we don’t just invest money–we invest thought, connections, and purpose. Bringing Zaheer Khan on board wasn’t just about his name; it was about his passion for sports and his ability to inspire. We believe the right investors bring more than capital–they bring credibility and vision. With Zaheer as an anchor investor, Machaxi is set to make an even bigger impact on India’s sports landscape.”
Ecosystem Ventures (ESV) is an early-stage fund established in 2020 by Abhishek Sanghvi. The fund invests between $250,000 to $1 million in Pre-Series A rounds and has made 19 investments to date, with a portfolio-level Internal Rate of Return (IRR) exceeding 50% and no write-offs.
