Picklebay Pickleball Platform India Launch: India’s first tech-based pickleball platform, Picklebay, officially launched in May 2025. Created by Siddhant Jatia, the startup aims to fix the challenges faced by pickleball players across India, such as unorganized tournaments, missing court data, and scattered communication.
Solving a Growing Problem
Pickleball has quickly become popular in India. But as the sport grew, players had a hard time finding courts and well-run events. They often depended on WhatsApp groups to stay updated.
“It was a sport with tremendous energy but no structure,” said Siddhant Jatia, founder of Picklebay. “Every time I played, I could sense how much people loved the game, but I also saw the frustration. I was playing four to five times a week, but there was no easy way to find regulation-sized courts or players of my skill level. Tournaments would drag on for hours because of poor scheduling.”
Mapping India’s Courts
To solve these issues, Jatia and his team visited courts in six major cities: Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. They checked court sizes, conditions, lighting, parking, and other features.
“We wanted to eliminate the guesswork that players face and build trust through data accuracy,” Jatia said. “For instance, if a court measures slightly less than the regulation size of 60 by 30 feet, say 54.6 feet, we ensure that players are informed about it.”
Today, Picklebay has listed around 225 facilities with 600–650 courts.
From Idea to Reality
The idea for Picklebay came in late 2024, when Siddhant Jatia—who comes from a business family—struggled with the same issues most players faced. After completing a management course at the University of California, Berkeley, Jatia decided to take action.
Work began in October 2024, and the platform launched seven months later. The startup began with Rs 1.5 crore in investment and focused on providing verified court listings.
More Than Just a Directory
Picklebay helps develop new pickleball courts by working with schools, hotels, and real estate developers.
“Recognising the importance of quality infrastructure in shaping the sport’s future, we’ve taken on the role of a trusted partner for facility development. Through strategic consulting and hands-on execution, we ensure that every court we help build supports both community-level engagement and professional play,” Jatia explained.
Growing Fast Across Cities
Within just two months of launching, Picklebay had over 1,100 users. The most users came from Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, with plans to expand in Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.
“We started with around 250 users in our first month, grew to over 750 in the second, and we’re now adding users at 70-80% month-on-month,” Jatia noted. “By the end of 2025, our goal is to reach 20,000 users.”
India now has over 1,200 pickleball courts, up from 200 in early 2024. The sport is growing fast, with a goal of reaching 2,500 courts by 2028.
“We know the challenges, limited sponsorships, lack of media coverage, but we’re building the foundation now. This sport is inclusive, exciting, and on the verge of a boom. Picklebay will be there to lead that growth,” Jatia added.
Smart Tournament Tools
Picklebay has also created a tournament system. It helps with signups, match scheduling, live scoring, and results.
“Tournaments used to be frustrating for both organisers and players. We wanted to remove that frustration. Our system ensures that events run like clockwork. Players know exactly when they’re playing, and everything is transparent,” Jatia said.
In its 10-city India Tournament Series 2025, Picklebay had over 400 players in Mumbai and 500 in Kolkata.
“In Mumbai, the event even finished 10 minutes ahead of schedule, something that rarely happens in Indian tournaments,” Jatia recalled.
Making Money from Many Channels
Picklebay earns money through bookings, tournament fees, partnerships, and consulting. Each tournament costs players between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000. It also has sponsors like Gold’s Gym, Bluetokai, SC Bank, and Draft Motors.
“We’re still in the early stages of monetisation, but our model is designed to scale across multiple touchpoints. Our retreats, events, and corporate leagues are already attracting interest from brands that want to associate with this growing sport,” Jatia said.
Building a Community
Picklebay wants to help players connect, schedule games, and build local groups. Soon, it will launch a community feature to move players beyond WhatsApp.
“We’ve outgrown WhatsApp groups,” Jatia said. “What players need is a digital home where they can connect, plan matches, and grow the community in an organised way.”
The platform also hosts social events like DJ breakfast games and glow-in-the-dark pickleball nights. These have helped attract more than 1,300 active users in just 2.5 months.
Corporate Programs and Travel
In July 2025, Picklebay started offering coaching and leagues for companies. It also hosts travel events that mix sports with fun. Its first retreat will take place in Phuket in August 2025.
“Having played across the world, I value how professionally these events are managed here — on-time matches, attention to detail, and technology that keeps everything transparent and accessible. It’s a platform that truly understands what players need,” said Vinay Sethia, India No. 12 (DUPR Rankings).
“Picklebay has redefined my experience with the sport in India. It’s not just about finding courts or players, it’s about how seamlessly everything comes together, from information to tournament updates,” he added.
Looking to the Future
Picklebay plans to add smart features like AI skill ratings, player matching, and performance tracking.
“We’re collecting data now to build a smarter system. By the end of 2025, AI will help players find equally skilled partners and track their progress over time, making the entire experience more competitive and engaging,” Jatia added.
The core team of 10 people includes experts from top global sports events like the IPL, the Australian Open, and the World Cups.
In India, Picklebay competes with groups like the All India Pickleball Association, World Pickleball League, and Konnect Pickleball.
“With Picklebay, our aim is to create an inclusive ecosystem where players of all levels feel at home, making the game accessible across cities and communities,” Jatia concluded.
News in Brief: Picklebay Pickleball Platform India Launch
Picklebay is India’s first end-to-end pickleball platform, helping players find courts, enter tournaments, and connect with others. Launched in May 2025 by Siddhant Jatia, it now has over 1,100 users and supports growth through smart tech, events, and partnerships. Picklebay aims to reach 20,000 users by year-end.