Bengaluru-based sports retail venture PlayBlue has closed a seed funding round of $2.7 million, with Centre Court Capital and MIXI Global Investments leading the round and WEH Ventures joining as a participating investor. The capital will go toward setting up the company’s first physical stores and building out its online retail presence nationwide.
Co-founder Satyam Trivedi said India is shifting from a nation that watches sport to one that plays it, and that PlayBlue was built to give athletes and everyday players “a trusted place to discover the right product.”
Fellow co-founder Jayam Vora pointed to the scale of the opportunity ahead, citing projections that India’s sports and active-lifestyle market could exceed $30 billion by 2035. He noted that meeting this demand would require 15,000+ new retail touchpoints across the country, and said PlayBlue intends to position itself at the centre of that expansion.
Investors backing the round echoed similar reasoning. Mustafa Ghouse of Centre Court Capital pointed to the founders’ operational experience within India’s sports industry as a key differentiator, arguing that organised retail remains a missing link between brands, athletes, and consumers. Tomoharu Urabe of MIXI Global Investments added that while enthusiasm for sport runs deep across Indian households, the retail infrastructure to support that enthusiasm has lagged behind — a gap he believes PlayBlue is positioned to close.
About the Company
PlayBlue was established in 2025 by Trivedi and Vora as an omnichannel retail platform catering to athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and recreational players alike. Its catalogue spans sportswear, footwear, equipment, fitness accessories, recovery products, and nutrition items, sourced from more than 100 domestic and international brands. Beyond product sales, the platform offers customers expert purchasing guidance, integrated inventory tracking, and expedited delivery.
Expansion Plans
The company’s rollout will begin with a 15,000 square foot flagship location in Bengaluru, with subsequent stores planned for Mumbai and Delhi NCR. Its e-commerce operations are designed to serve customers across India from launch.
Looking ahead, PlayBlue has set an ambitious five year roadmap: expanding to more than 150 stores, reaching upwards of 10 million customers, and generating annual revenue in excess of ₹5,000 crore. In the nearer term, the company says its priority is reaching ₹100 crore in revenue and achieving operational profitability before pursuing its next funding round.
