Bengaluru, January 2026: Sports-tech innovator StepOut, an AI-powered football performance and analytics platform, has raised $1.5 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Rainmatter by Zerodha, with participation from SucSEED Innovation Fund and Misfits Capital.
This new round follows the company’s seed funding led by Rainmatter in late 2024, signaling strong investor confidence in StepOut’s technology-driven approach to transforming sports performance analytics.
Fueling Global Expansion and Deep Tech Investments
The freshly raised capital will be deployed towards expanding international operations, enhancing AI and computer vision technology, and scaling product innovation. The Bengaluru-based startup also plans to extend its platform beyond football, venturing into amateur and multi-sport analytics over the coming years.
According to the founders, the goal is to build a comprehensive global ecosystem for athlete development, talent scouting, and real-time performance management across all levels of competitive sports.
StepOut: Revolutionizing Football with AI and Data Intelligence
Founded by Jeet Karmakar and Sayak Ghosh, StepOut leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision to deliver actionable insights for players, coaches, scouts, and federations.
Its AI-driven platform enables performance tracking, tactical analysis, and match insights through tools such as AI-powered match analytics and highlights, player impact metrics like xG (expected goals), xA (expected assists), PPDA (passes per defensive action), automated video summaries, performance dashboards, and real-time match intelligence.
The platform is used across youth academies, semi-professional, and professional football ecosystems, empowering teams to make data-backed decisions and streamline player development.
Impressive Growth Metrics and Global Presence
Since its last funding round, StepOut has demonstrated strong growth momentum, achieving 3x year-on-year revenue growth, a 90% customer renewal rate, and analyzing over 25,000 matches while tracking 150,000+ players.
The company currently works with 120 clubs, academies, and federations across 23 countries, including partnerships with leading names such as AFC Ajax, Rayo Vallecano, Bengaluru FC, Hong Kong FC, and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
StepOut is also conducting pilot programs with top-tier global clubs such as Real Madrid, Chelsea, Fulham, and Espanyol, showcasing its growing credibility in elite football analytics.
Rainmatter’s Continued Backing Strengthens StepOut’s Vision
Rainmatter by Zerodha, known for supporting tech-first Indian startups driving sustainable impact, has doubled down on its investment in StepOut.
The fund’s continued support reflects its belief in AI’s transformative role in sports, particularly in improving performance analysis, talent identification, and accessibility to professional-grade tools for grassroots athletes.
Pioneering the Future of AI-Driven Sports Performance
Jeet Karmakar, Co-founder of StepOut, said the company aims to make data-driven performance analytics accessible to every level of sport:
“Our vision is to democratize performance intelligence — bringing the same analytical power used by elite clubs to grassroots and youth players. AI allows us to identify potential, enhance training efficiency, and make sports more inclusive.”
With its latest funding, StepOut will continue investing in AI model training, global partnerships, and mobile accessibility to ensure scalability across diverse geographies and sporting formats.
About StepOut
Founded in 2020, StepOut is a sports analytics and AI company that provides end-to-end football intelligence solutions to clubs, federations, and academies worldwide. The platform enables real-time analysis, scouting, and development tracking through advanced AI and computer vision technology.
The startup’s mission is to redefine sports intelligence by combining data science, automation, and visual analytics — helping coaches and players make faster, smarter decisions.
Conclusion
StepOut’s latest funding milestone reinforces India’s growing prominence in sports technology and AI innovation. With its strong product adoption across 23 countries, partnerships with global clubs, and continued investor support, the company is positioning itself as a leading AI-driven sports intelligence platform on the global stage.
As StepOut scales, it is not only empowering athletes and clubs with data-driven insights but also shaping the future of sports performance analytics in India and beyond.
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape.