Bhuvneshwar Kumar partners with IIM Lucknow EIC and LegaXy to launch first of its kind Sportstech/eSports/Gaming Accelerator in India.
LegaXy has partnered with the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow – Enterprise Incubation Centre (EIC) and cricketing icon Bhuvneshwar Kumar to establish first of its kind Sportstech/eSports/Gaming Accelerator in India. The initiative will nurture early-stage ventures working at the intersection of sports technology, gaming, eSports, and new-age media, an area witnessing rapid growth in the country’s digital economy.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar x LegaXy x IIM Lucknow EIC comes together to support Gaming Startups
The accelerator will operate from IIM Lucknow’s Enterprise Incubation Centre (EIC), integrating academic research with business mentorship and industry partnerships. LegaXy brings its experience across athlete management, sports branding, and content creation, while IIM Lucknow EIC contributes its expertise in entrepreneurship, incubation, and investor networks.
The programme aims to identify and support startups developing technologies that enhance athletic performance, enrich fan engagement, and strengthen India’s competitive gaming and eSports ecosystem. Participating founders will gain access to structured mentorship covering seed funding, go-to-market planning, and domain expertise, along with guidance from IIM Lucknow EIC experts and collaboration with leading sports organisations. The accelerator will also serve as a research and experimentation platform for studying innovation at the intersection of sport, media, and technology.
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A curated cohort of ten startups will form the first batch of the accelerator. Applications for participation will open in the first quarter of 2026, following a national call for proposals and evaluation by a joint panel from LegaXy and IIM Lucknow EIC
Speaking at the launch, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Indian cricketer and sports ambassador, said, “The game is changing, both on and off the field. Initiatives like this accelerator will fuel innovation, helping startups transform sports, gaming, and fan experiences while positioning India as a global leader in sportainment.”
Mohammed Sirajuddin, Founding Advisor, LegaXy, said, “Sports & Gaming are no longer niches, they are $300B+ industries. For India to claim 5% of that market, we must invest in structured accelerators – that support with funding, mentoring & scaling the next wave of World class Sportstech/eSports/Gaming Ventures from India to the world.”
Mr. Yamini Bhushan Pandey , Managing Director & CEO, IIM Lucknow -EIC, said,“Our collaboration with LegaXy marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s SportsTech and innovation ecosystem. Through this Sportstech Acceleration Program, we aim to empower startups that are redefining the intersection of sports, technology, and new-age media, enabling them to scale globally with the right mentorship, market access, and investor support. At IIML-EIC, we remain committed to nurturing future-ready ventures that drive sustainable impact and contribute to India’s growing innovation narrative.”
Amitesh Shah, Founder and CEO of LegaXy, added, “This partnership between IIM Lucknow EIC, LegaXy, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar represents a powerful fusion of academia, entrepreneurship, and sporting excellence. Together, we’re building an ecosystem that will accelerate innovation and help shape the future of SportsTech, eSports & Gaming in India.”
India’s gaming sector has grown at an estimated compound annual rate of over 20 percent in the past five years. The online gaming industry is projected to reach a valuation of around ₹66,000 crore by 2028, driven by mobile-first audiences and deeper digital penetration. eSports alone is expected to record a 25 percent annual growth rate, reflecting the rising influence of gaming as both entertainment and enterprise.
As India’s sports and gaming landscape evolves, the need for structured platforms that nurture innovation into viable enterprises has never been greater. The Sports Gaming Accelerator is a step in that direction, bridging research, mentorship, and market access. Through this partnership, LegaXy and IIM Lucknow EIC seek to shape India’s emergence as a global hub for sportainment innovation and digital enterprise.
