Pickleball Startup Networking Trend: In Bengaluru, India, startup founders and investors are turning to pickleball courts instead of boardrooms to connect. This new trend was explored in the first episode of the podcast 90,000 Hours, hosted by Rahel Philipose. The episode shows how the startup world is shifting from traditional networking to a more active and personal way of building relationships.
For years, networking meant dressing up, handing out business cards, and making small talk in fancy rooms. But now, a younger group of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are doing things differently. They are using sports like pickleball to meet, share ideas, and even raise funds.
Mixing Sports with Startups
Arjun Vaidya, the founder of Dr. Vaidya’s and now an investor at V3 Ventures, has started a new initiative called Pickle & Pitch. It allows startup founders to pitch their business ideas while playing pickleball. This means investors get to know people while having fun, not just during serious meetings.
Vaniya Dangwal, a former professional tennis player and founder of Courtside Club, is also changing the way people meet in the startup world. She hosts events where startup members connect through sports. These mixers are more about teamwork and effort than pushing sales.
“You’ll hear from:
Arjun Vaidya – Founder of Dr Vaidya’s and now an investor at V3 Ventures. He’s launched Pickle & Pitch, a new way for founders to raise capital on the court, not in a conference room.
Vaniya Dangwal – Former professional tennis player and founder of Courtside Club. She’s bringing startup folks together through curated sports mixers, where the serve matters more than the sales pitch.”
Building a Community Through Play
Piyush Jain and Pravruth BH, co-founders of Sprentzo, are helping grow this trend. Their platform connects people to local sports groups across India. They say pickleball is now the fastest-growing sport on their app. This shows that people want connection through shared activities.
“You’ll hear from:
Piyush Jain and Pravruth BH – Founders of Sprentzo, a platform building grassroots sports communities across India. Their fastest-growing sport? Pickleball.”
A New Meaning of Networking
This episode of 90,000 Hours asks important questions. Why are businesspeople picking up paddles instead of handing out name tags? What happens when the focus shifts from exchanging cards to forming real connections?
“Why are people trading name tags for paddles?
What happens when connection becomes the goal and not the card you walk away with?
And what does it say about the future of work?”
These changes suggest that people care more about building honest, lasting relationships. The way we work, meet, and grow ideas is changing, and it may lead to better teamwork, mental health, and inclusiveness in business.
“This episode is about something deeper than just a game. It’s about belonging, access, and how we build relationships that actually matter over our 90,000 hours.”
News in Brief: Pickleball Startup Networking Trend
Startup founders and investors in Bengaluru are replacing formal networking with pickleball games to connect and raise funds. As seen in the 90,000 Hours podcast, sports events like Pickle & Pitch and Courtside Club are reshaping how business relationships begin—moving from boardrooms to sports courts.