In a cricket-crazy nation where millions dream of representing India, one Bengaluru-based startup is quietly building the tech to turn raw talent into real champions.
KhiladiPro (KPro), a sports tech platform launched less than a year ago, has just secured $1 million in pre-seed funding, co-led by Shastra VC and MGA Ventures, with backing from prominent names like M Pallonji, Jeena and Co., Ayaz Billawala, Nimesh Kampani, and Jaimin Bhat.
But this isn’t just another startup chasing buzzwords. KPro is on a mission to democratize athletic discovery—using artificial intelligence.
Founded by Utkarsh Yadav in August 2023, KPro offers a mobile-first, AI-powered platform that conducts standardized sports assessments for young athletes. Whether it’s a budding cricketer in a Tier-2 city or a school kid swinging a badminton racket for the first time, the platform aims to provide expert-level feedback at scale—no stadiums or scouts required.
“At KPro, we believe talent exists everywhere—it’s opportunity that’s unevenly distributed,” says Yadav. “We’re using tech to close that gap.”
Central to KPro’s offering is its Khiladi Ability Index (KAI), the country’s first AI-powered benchmark for youth fitness and movement intelligence. Inspired by global frameworks like Fundamental Motor Skills (FMS) and Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), KAI places every athlete—regardless of background—on a unified performance scale. It’s a way to spot potential early and build personalized training paths.
Their tools are already making waves. With more than 56 proprietary AI models built in-house, KPro is working alongside institutions like the DLCL, Karnataka Badminton Association, and the Handball Association of India. From the KPro Olympiad for schools to Khiladi Klub, a community for high-potential youth athletes, the startup is assembling the building blocks of a truly inclusive, Olympic-aligned talent ecosystem.
With the new funding, the team plans to double down on AI development, expand across Indian markets, and enhance support systems for athletes—especially those without access to elite training centers.
“India has long been a land of sports passion,” Yadav reflects. “Now it’s time to turn that passion into podium finishes—powered by data, AI, and equal access.”
With India’s sports tech market poised to touch $1.47 billion by 2033, KPro’s play could be a game-changer—not just for athletes, but for the very future of Indian sports.
