LegaXy partners IIM Lucknow, Bhuvneshwar Kumar to launch sports, gaming accelerator

LegaXy, IIM Lucknow's Enterprise Incubation Centre, and cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar have launched India's first sportstech, esports, and gaming startup accelerator. This program will support early-stage ventures by combining academic research with business mentorship and industry partnerships.

LegaXy, a sports, media and entertainment company, has partnered with the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow's Enterprise Incubation Centre and cricketer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to launch what they claim is India's first accelerator focused on sportstech, esports and gaming startups.

The programme, housed at IIM Lucknow's incubation centre, will support early stage ventures working across sports technology, gaming, esports and new age media. It will combine academic research with business mentorship, fundraising support and industry partnerships.

LegaXy will contribute expertise in athlete management, sports branding and content creation, while IIM Lucknow EIC will offer entrepreneurship support and investor access.

A curated cohort of ten startups will form the first batch. Applications open in the first quarter of 2026 following a national call for proposals and evaluation by a joint panel.

“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," said Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Mohammed Sirajuddin, founding advisor at LegaXy, said sports and gaming are now more than $300 billion 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.”

Yamini Bhushan Pandey, managing director and CEO of IIM Lucknow EIC, said the collaboration aims to empower startups at the intersection of sports, technology and new-age media and help them scale globally. "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, said the partnership brings together academia, entrepreneurship and sporting excellence to build an ecosystem that accelerates sportstech and gaming innovation.

India's gaming market has grown at more than 20% annually over the last five years and is projected to reach about Rs 66,000 crore by 2028. Esports alone is expected to grow at 25% a year as digital adoption deepens.

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Source: EconomicTimes
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