Start-up company raises $10m to support padel growth in the US
Epic Padel is aiming to invest in the growth of the sport in the US by developing tech-enabled clubs and a range of strategic investments.
Virginia-based padel club operator and investment company, Epic Padel, recently secured an oversubscribed $10 million seed round to launch its first US clubs, including ventures across the global padel ecosystem, according to a report by Forbes.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Shameeka Voyiya explores how the funding could accelerate the sport’s expansion and reshape its accessibility in the US.
Epic Padel’s $10m vision for growth
The round was led by many investors, including NowaisWorld, Stryde Ventures and 305 Ventures.
The company is also supported by sports stars, including former American football player Tre Boston, Swedish ice hockey player Nicklas Bäckström and Egyptian triathlete Omar Nour.
Epic Padel already operates one padel club in North Carolina and aims to use the proceeds of its $10 million seed round to launch four to six clubs in locations such as Virginia, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Utah.
Not enough padel courts
“The rapid growth of pickleball [another popular alternative to tennis] shows that Americans are prepared to try alternative racquet sports,” Kareem Anabtawi, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Epic Padel, told Forbes.
“The problem is that there aren’t anywhere enough padel courts for them to play on.”
“Padel is fast, easy to pick up and very sociable, but we’re only right at the beginning of the adoption curve in the US,” said Hala Sarkis, CEO of Epic Padel.
“We need more courts, particularly outside of the big cities.”
Recent reports predict explosive growth for padel in the US over the next few years, but they also note challenges such as limited number of courts, and construction costs.
In order to catch up with other European countries, Deloitte warns that the US needs to open 30,000 courts by 2030.
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Spearheading inclusivity and accessibility
Epic Padel’s strategy is to convert underused real estate, such as parking lots, warehouses or existing racquet clubs, into inclusive community hubs for padel and other racquet sports.
“Padel should be a sport for everyone,” said Anabtawi.
“In the US to date, it has often been seen as a game for the elite 1 percent but there is a real opportunity to democratise padel.”
“Our ambition is to create the leading padel platform in North America – not just by building clubs, but by investing across the sport’s ecosystem: from events and equipment to tech and talent,” added Sarkis.
“Padel is more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle,” said Tim Bainton, the company’s chief operating officer, according to Athletech News.
“We’re building clubs that welcome everyone, not just the elite. And through tech, partnerships, and real community engagement, we’re making it possible.”
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