Sports-tech startup KhiladiPro secures $1Mn in pre-seed round

Sports tech platform KhiladiPro (KPro) has raised approximately $1 million in a pre-seed funding round co- led by Shastra VC and  MGA Ventures. The round also witnessed participation from prominent family offices and angel investors, including M Pallonji, Jeena and Co., Ayaz Billawala, Nimesh Kampani and Jaimin Bhat.

The fresh funds will be used to accelerate the development of its proprietary AI models, expand reach in domestic markets, and enhance support systems for young athletes across the country, KhiladiPro said in a press release.

Launched in August 2023 by Utkarsh Yadav, KPro is a Visual AI sports tech platform that aims to democratize access to athletic talent discovery and development in India. The company enables mobile-based, standardized sports assessments which deliver expert-level feedback to young athletes across schools and academies.

According to the Bengaluru-based startup, its flagship products include sports ability tests for badminton & cricket, the Khiladi Ability Index (KAI) which places all users on a unified rating scale, KPro Olympiad for schools, and Khiladi Klub for high-potential youth athletes. With over 56 in-house AI models built ground-up and partnerships with institutions like DLCL, Karnataka Badminton Association, and Handball Association of India, KPro aims to build an inclusive, Olympic-aligned, and digitally empowered athletic ecosystem for the next generation.

According to market research, India's sports technology market is projected to reach $1,479.2 million by 2033.

KPro's flagship products—Kpro SAT and the Khiladi Ability Index (KAI)—is a first AI-powered benchmark for youth fitness and movement intelligence. Grounded in global frameworks like Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) and Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), KAI enables early identification of athletic potential and supports personalized growth trajectories for children.