Kerala-Based Startup Secures Capital To Expand Globally
Sports-tech startup Dartle has raised $100,000 in a seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), as the company looks to strengthen its presence in international markets and accelerate product development.
The Kerala based startup plans to use the fresh capital to expand its go-to-market efforts, deepen its footprint in the United States, enhance artificial intelligence capabilities, and strengthen partnerships across the youth sports ecosystem.
The funding comes as sports academies increasingly adopt digital tools to manage operations, athlete performance, and stakeholder engagement more efficiently.
What Does Dartle Do?
Founded by Nihal Pradeep, Swathi Krishnan, and Nagaraj R Potti, Dartle operates a vertical B2B SaaS platform designed specifically for youth sports organizations and football academies.
The platform enables academies to manage scheduling, operations, player performance analytics, communication, and parent engagement through a single integrated system.
By digitizing routine administrative tasks, Dartle aims to help sports organizations focus more on athlete development and less on operational complexities.
The startup positions itself at the intersection of sports management and data-driven athlete development, an area witnessing growing demand globally.
Growing International Presence
Dartle currently serves 14 academies across India, the Middle East, Nepal, and the United States.
The company has also launched eight paid pilot programs in the US market, highlighting increasing interest from sports organizations seeking technology solutions for academy management and player development.
As part of its expansion strategy, Dartle plans to strengthen its presence in North America, one of the world’s largest sports technology markets.
AI And Data Analytics At The Core
According to the company, its platform leverages data analytics and AI-driven tools to improve athlete tracking and engagement.
Dartle claims its technology can reduce administrative workloads for academies by up to 75%, enabling coaches and administrators to focus more on training and player development.
The platform also supports performance monitoring and data-driven engagement initiatives that help improve athlete retention and long-term participation.
As sports organizations increasingly embrace technology, AI-powered insights are becoming a key differentiator in athlete development programs.
Strong Commercial Momentum
The startup reports several recent business milestones that demonstrate growing market traction.
According to Dartle, it secured a $60,000 MLS Next sponsorship and successfully increased its average contract value from $15,000 to $33,000.
These developments reflect growing demand for specialized software solutions tailored to the needs of sports academies and youth development programs.
The company believes that digitization and performance analytics will become increasingly important as sports organizations seek to optimize operations and athlete outcomes.
Ambitious Growth Plans Ahead
Looking forward, Dartle aims to onboard more than 100 sports academies globally over the next year.
The startup is also targeting annual recurring revenue (ARR) of nearly $1 million as it expands across key international markets.
In addition to investor backing from Inflection Point Ventures, Dartle is supported by startup accelerator Upekkha and has received recognition from NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore.
With fresh capital, growing international traction, and increasing demand for sports management technology, Dartle is positioning itself to become a significant player in the global youth sports SaaS market.
