StepOut, an AI-driven football intelligence startup, has raised $1.5 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Rainmatter, with participation from SucSEED Innovation Fund and Misfits Capital.
The round follows StepOut’s recognition by Real Madrid and other international football organisations.
The funding will be used to expand StepOut’s global footprint, enhance its AI and computer vision capabilities, and introduce new features for player development and match analysis.
The company also plans to extend its platform beyond youth and professional football to amateur leagues and other sports.
Founded by NIT Durgapur alumni Jeet Karmakar and Sayak Ghosh, who connected over a shared passion for sports and technology during their engineering years, StepOut has steadily built strong global credibility within the football ecosystem.
Since its inception, StepOut has tracked over 150,000 players across 25,000 matches and now serves more than 120 clubs, academies, and federations in 23 countries. Its platform includes AI-powered performance analysis, automated highlights, video breakdowns, and real-time coach–player feedback.
StepOut partners with clubs including AFC Ajax, Rayo Vallecano, Bengaluru FC, and federations such as the All India Football Federation, and is running pilot projects with elite clubs like Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Commenting on the investment, Abhinav Singh Negi from the Rainmatter team said:
“From the very beginning, we believed StepOut was solving a real and deeply under-served problem in grassroots and youth sports. Over the last year, the team has demonstrated strong execution, product depth, and clear global relevance. Their ability to combine cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of the game truly sets them apart. We are excited to continue backing Jeet, Sayak, and the team as they scale StepOut globally.”
The startup’s mission is to democratise football analytics and performance intelligence, helping players and teams make data-driven decisions across all levels of the sport.
