Swipe’s customer Matchday AI gets acquired by Nithin Kamath-backed Game Theory

Many of us dream of becoming Dhoni, Sindhu, or Virat as kids or the next big sportsperson. Even today, many carry regrets about not going into sports as their main profession. We all want to feel like we are playing for India when we touch a cricket bat or a badminton racket.

This is the story of a boy who loved cricket so much that he became a state cricket player but wasn't able to perceive sports as his first profession after high school but his love for sports always dragged him back to sports. His passion for physical games showed him a career path.

Ganesh completed his graduation from IIIT Hyderabad when he decided to follow his passion for sports and started his journey towards gamifying physical games using computer vision. Along with Harsha, his cofounder. Ganesh created Matchday AI, an artificial intelligence-backed platform designed to enhance the experience of sports players, coaches, and enthusiasts.

The software employs computer vision technology to offer features such as swing tracking, ball tracking, shot and video analysis, smart coaching, and match analysis. It autonomously mines deep data from sports videos in real time. This means that without any manual intervention, the software collects a staggering 50,000 data points per match, offering a wealth of insights into player performance. It aims to gamify physical sports, making them more engaging and fun for a broader audience.

The motivation behind Match Day AI is deeply personal for Ganesh. So, initial funding came from Ganesh's victories at hackathons, supplemented by Harsha's investment. Their journey took an exciting turn when the Chief National Coach for the India national badminton team, Pullela Gopichand himself, joined as a co-founder, impressed by their product and vision.

He played a pivotal role in the development of Matchday AI. As a co-founder, he not only guided Harsha and Ganesh to build this software for badminton but also implemented it in his academy, where many national badminton players are members.

“Personally, I am convinced that this is the next big step for the development of the sport and I am very excited to be a part of this. Hyderabad has already produced a lot of champion players, now we are on the cusp of also producing a great new innovation that can really disrupt badminton and also sports globally,” - Gopichand.

Like every other business, Matchday AI also faced its fair share of challenges. One primary challenge lies in changing the traditional mindset of how sports are played and coached. Coaches found the data output a bit tricky. But Ganesh and Harsha didn't back down. They worked their magic and made things simple. Furthermore, there is a need for widespread approval and adoption for official tournaments.

As a result, Matchday AI became the best startup of their state and they had a chance to meet Prime Minister. Now, top athletes in India are using Matchday AI for their matches and more than 200 players who have used Matchday AI have given positive feedback.

Today, Top notch players like Lakshya Sen, Kidambri Srikanth, Prannoy H. S., Orjit Chaliha, and other prominent athletes have embraced Matchday AI in their training regimes. The software's precision and comprehensive analysis have made it an integral part of their preparation, providing a competitive edge in the international arena.

The company's success isn't just limited to India. Match Day AI has garnered attention from international quarters. According to co-founder Harsha Vardhan, they've received inquiries from European nations eager to incorporate this technology into their badminton structures.

Recently, Game Theory, the real sports gaming platform backed by Nithin Kamath's Rainmatter Fund, has acquired Matchday AI to revolutionize the gaming experience for everyday players, connecting enthusiasts across various sports and providing comprehensive analytics.

This acquisition, effective since October 28, aligns with the mission of Matchday AI to enhance the physical sports experience for sports enthusiasts at all levels Leveraging advanced computer vision technology,

While reflecting on his journey, Ganesh happily shared that "using Swipe for our business finances made things super easy, especially with subscription invoices. It gave us more time to focus on important stuff when we were just starting out. For me and my team without much financial know-how, handling invoices was hassle-free.

Now, Matchday AI is gearing up for ambitious plans. The future holds a vision where this transformative software isn't just for the pros but accessible to everyone. Swipe takes immense pride in being part of this exciting journey.

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Updated on:

June 6, 2024