Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and it's now making waves in India. In this episode, we sit down with Sam and Abhinav, co-founders of GoRally, a company that's revolutionizing recreational sports in India by introducing full-stack pickleball experiences. GoRally's mission is to get the next 10 million Indians playing sports regularly. They're starting with pickleball, setting up courts, building communities, and leveraging technology to make sports accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age or gender. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: 🎯 The inspiration behind GoRally and their mission to transform recreational sports in India 🏓 What is pickleball, and why is it gaining popularity globally and in India 💡 How Sam and Abhinav validated the demand for pickleball in India 🏢 Challenges and strategies in setting up sports infrastructure and facilities 🤝 The importance of building community and inclusivity in sports 💰 Their fundraising journey: Raising a pre-seed round and choosing the right investors 🚀 Future plans for GoRally: Scaling, building a moat, and potential pivots ⚖️ Balancing operational challenges with passion and mission 🎙️ Insights into being early-stage startup founders in an emerging industry This episode offers valuable insights into building a business from the ground up in a nascent market. Whether you're interested in startups, sports entrepreneurship, or the rise of pickleball in India, you won't want to miss this conversation. --- 👉 Chapters: 00:00 - Teaser 00:55 - Introduction 01:23 - Meet Sam and Abhinav, Founders of GoRally 04:24 - GoRally's Mission: Transforming Recreational Sports in India 07:38 - Why Focus on Pickleball? 17:00 - What is Pickleball and Why is it Gaining Popularity? 26:38 - Validating the Demand: Early Success and Learnings 35:13 - The Fundraising Journey: Raising a Pre-Seed Round 40:52 - Choosing the Right Investors and Their Expectations 50:36 - Overcoming Operational Challenges in Setting Up Facilities 1:00:22 - Picking App Partners like Hudle & Playo vs. DIY distribution 1:04:41 - What's Keeping the Founders Up at Night: Building a Moat and Balancing Passion with Operational Realities 1:09:44 - Rapid-Fire Q&A with Sam and Abhinav 1:22:23 - Closing Thoughts and Takeaways 1:32:23 - Rohith's back-of-envelope Math --- 💬 Let us know your favorite part of the conversation in the comments! If you’re interested in startups, entrepreneurship, or the sports industry, hit Subscribe and stay tuned for more conversations like this. #Startups #GoRally #Pickleball #Entrepreneurship #SportsBusiness #India