According to reports, Game Theory has been able to secure $2 million in a pre-series A funding round.
Currently, the company has set its sights on expanding its centers. They are also in the talks of expanding their offerings by including tennis, table tennis, and football to their list on top of badminton, swimming, and squash.
Investors such as Nithin Kamath-owned Rainmatter and tennis player Rohan Bopanna, among others, were leading the funding round. Furthermore, WEH Ventures, Prequate Advisory, and angel investor Balakrishna Adiga have also joined in the investment round.
The company has revealed that it will be using the funds it secured to develop technology, build out skill-based matchmaking, work on offering more coaching products, as well as broaden its network of “smart sporting facilities.”
Previously, they were able to secure around $500,000 from Techstars and other angel investors in the round. Sudeep Kulkarni says,
“At Game Theory, our mission is get people of all levels playing, by fostering a vibrant community that finds joy and camaraderie in sport. This funding milestone brings us one step closer to achieving that mission. Our technology will soon help people bring the “ultimate joy” of playing sports back into their lives” He also noted that Rainmatter’s investment is its first foray into the sports sector.
Kulkarni also added,
“Our fully-integrated technology platform, with several first-in-the-worlds, will bring in interactive features like real-time score keeping, captivating video highlights, pro sports like stats and on-court matchmaking will enhance the overall experience for our users. This successful fundraising is just the beginning; it marks the beginning of how everyday sports can be transformed with technology. We extend our cheers (and heartfelt thanks) to all who’ve been part of this journey.”
Kamath also speaks on the matter. He says,
“One of the best ways to stay fit is to pick up and play a sport regularly. The problem is it’s hard to find locations to play regularly and match with similar skilled individuals. Game Theory is solving this problem by making sports accessible to Indians. Given our mission at Rainmatter to help Indians make healthier choices, we are excited to join the Game Theory team in this journey.”
What do others have to say?
Rohit Krishna, who is a partner at WEH Ventures, highlights,
“We believe the next large consumer brand will be built in the services segment and we are ecstatic to be backing the team to build the largest consumer sports brand in India.”
Likewise, Pradyumna Nag, who is a partner at Prequate Advisory, shares
“Sports has consistently proven to be one of the most resilient sectors and the emerging trend of ‘play for fitness’ is here to stay. Game Theory is built on an exceptional business model that makes sports accessible without drastically changing the underlying infrastructure. The real breakthrough though, is how Game Theory was able to reframe players as ‘users’ – stemming from their personal experiences”.
About the company
The company was founded in 2018 by Sudeep Kulkarni. In terms of what the platform does, it provides real-time scorekeeping, videos of game highlights, pro sports stats, and on-court matchmaking to enhance the overall experience for users. You can play games against others, join friendly leagues, or create teams. Plus, you can watch your friends’ league matches and catch up with old schoolmates over sports.
