PlayCKC, a New Delhi-based live sports gaming platform, has raised $200K in a seed funding round led by Freeflow Venture Builders with participation from HNIs like Sanjay Nagi and Sharan Parikh.
India’s online gaming market is expected to grow to $7b+ in 2026. With technology and gameplay that focuses on building live engagement for everyday sports fans, PlayCKC aims to disrupt the space.
Live sports gaming platform
Founded by Swapnil Manish, Anuradha Sinha, and Sanket Khemuka, PlayCKC is a sports gaming platform that focuses on aligning sports gaming with the real-world behaviour of sports fans.
The Indian company has built distinctive and non-intimidating formats called PREDICT AND SELECT.
PREDICT offers a simple MCQ format where a fan gets to make predictions during a match. The questions are generated on the go, based on LIVE data. SELECT is a simplified fantasy format where a fan must pick six players without constraints.
PREDICT is free to play, while SELECT has both free and real-money gaming versions.
As a result, gamers can redeem their winnings for reward options such as gift cards and vouchers, including Amazon Pay, Swiggy, and Xoxoday.
PlayCKC was one of the four startups that were selected in the first sports-tech cohort by India Accelerator and JSW Sports. Initially launched for Cricket, the gaming platform plans to bring in live gaming for Football during the Football World Cup later this year.
Swapnil Manish, co-founder & CEO, says, “We at PlayCKC are creating a new segment of sports gamers as we strongly believe that sports fans deserve gaming beyond traditional fantasy sports. PlayCKC caters to sports fans’ need to engage during live action. The first round of investors is the most special lot as they show faith in a startup’s belief at a very early stage. It’s such a delight to welcome FreeFlow Ventures and all the other co-investors to this “band of believers.”
Aaquib Hussain, Founding Partner at Freeflow Venture Builders, says, “In an age where immersions are key for conversions and platform experience is the key to stickiness, PlayCKC is the closest bet to continual player experience in the most future-proof manner possible. Our bets on the founders and the culture are a manifestation of our achieved clarity with their vision, execution, and cumulative abilities. Here’s wishing a people approach of Growth with the needed transparency in the sports gaming space!”
Mona Singh, Co-founder of India Accelerator, says, “To promote technology in the Indian sports ecosystem, we partnered with JSW Sports last year and identified PlayCKC as a new-age sports gaming startup in our sports tech cohort. We recognise the need for responsible gaming companies in the continuously emerging sports gaming industry. PlayCKC fits in perfectly with its mission to offer fan engagement that aligns with the real-world behaviour of sports fans.”
