Overview
Kerala-based Dartle, a vertical B2B SaaS platform for youth sports and football academies, has raised $100,000 in a seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV). The company plans to utilize these funds to accelerate its go-to-market strategy, expand its footprint in the US market, and enhance its AI-driven feature set.
The Platform
Founded by Nihal Pradeep, Swathi Krishnan, and Nagaraj R Potti, Dartle provides an integrated management system for sports academies. Key features include:
- Operational and scheduling management tools
- Player performance analytics
- Automated parent engagement systems
The company claims its platform can reduce administrative workload by up to 75% while boosting athlete retention through data-driven insights.
Traction and Growth
Dartle currently supports 14 academies across India, the Middle East, Nepal, and the US, with eight paid pilots currently active in the American market. Significant milestones include:
- Securing a $60,000 MLS Next sponsorship.
- Achieving a significant increase in Average Contract Value (ACV) from $15,000 to $33,000.
- Aiming for over 100 global academy sign-ups and $1M ARR within the next year.
Founder Takeaway
Dartle’s ability to move from local operations to US-based paid pilots demonstrates the effectiveness of focusing on niche, high-value vertical SaaS solutions. Founders should prioritize creating ‘must-have’ operational efficiency tools that show immediate, measurable ROI to customers, even in specialized sectors like youth athletics.