Try GOLD - Free
Investors turn focus back to offline sports startups
Financial Express Hyderabad
|January 10, 2026
INVESTOR INTEREST IN offline sports startups is showing signs of revival as participation in organised sports rises and business models in the sector mature.
After attracting a modest $ 8 million in funding in 2024, startups operating in the offline sports space raised $14.7 million in 2025,according to data from Tracxn. The sector had peaked earlier in 2023, when funding stood at $73.9 million.Industry executives told FE that the renewed interest reflects a broader shift in how sports is being perceived in the country, from a discretionary pursuit to a structured consumer and education led business."More people now view sports not just as a hobby but as a lifestyle or income stream, fuelling demand across coaching, training, physiotherapy, nutrition and allied services," Arjun Singh, partner and sports industry leader at Grant Thornton Bharat, said. These shifts, he said, have turned sports into a high-growth sector that is drawing institutional capital.
This story is from the January 10, 2026 edition of Financial Express Hyderabad.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Financial Express Hyderabad
Financial Express Hyderabad
Steep fall in states' tax revenue growth; GST mop-up weakens
THE AGGREGATE REVENUE of states moderated because of slower growth in tax revenue of 9.2% on-year in the current financial year till November as compared with 17.4% during the same period last year, a report from Care Edge Ratings shows.
1 min
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Global bank chiefs show ‘solidarity’ with Fed chair Powell
TRUMP PUSHES, POWELL HOLDS
2 mins
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Govt steps in to rein in 10-minute delivery
Time-based branding by quick commerce firms set to fade away
1 min
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
'Small cars should not trade safety for affordability'
Tata Motors has launched an updated version of the Tata Punch at a starting price of ₹5.59 lakh (ex-showroom).
2 mins
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
AI drives HCLTech growth; impact softer for TCS
THE THIRD-QUARTER EARNINGS of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and HCLTech show diverging trends on artificial intelligence (AI) revenues for the IT majors as both scale up the next-gen technology integration into their business models.
1 mins
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
An extraordinary failure of tax governance
It’s time for the government to write off the unrealised tax revenue not under dispute and relieve taxpayers from unwarranted harassment
2 mins
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Samsung bullish on India, bets on rising economy
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS MAKER
1 min
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Govt proposes adoption of chain-based IIP
FE BUREAU New Delhi, January 13
1 mins
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
GLOBAL CONCERN RISES; MORE THAN 10,700 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED Iran protests turn deadly, toll mounts
Trump vows 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran
2 mins
January 14, 2026
Financial Express Hyderabad
Split SC verdict on prior nod in anti-graft law
Two-judge bench refers matter to CJI
2 mins
January 14, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size