From Stocks to Squats: How Nithin & Nikhil Kamath’s Rainmatter Is Investing in India’s Fitness Future, One Startup at a Time

Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, who disrupted online trading with Zerodha, are transforming India's health and fitness industry through their investment arm, Rainmatter. Having understood the dire need to tackle India's escalating fitness crisis, Rainmatter has made a pivot from fintech to investing in startups promoting active lifestyle and preventive care.

 

Key Highlights:

 

•⁠  ⁠Rainmatter has put money in 36 startups in health and fitness—the largest segment in its portfolio—such as sports-tech companies Machaxi and fitness sites Fittr, with more than ₹60 crore invested till date.

 

•⁠  ⁠The Kamath brothers tackle systemic barriers to fitness: infrastructure issues, cultural inertia, and limited access to sports. Their mantra? Fitness needs to be enjoyable and accessible, and sports are an ideal entry point for mass participation. 

 

•⁠  ⁠Support goes beyond investment—Rainmatter also provides wellness retreats and bootcamps, which combine physical fitness with entrepreneurial mindset training, to ensure overall wellness.

 

•⁠  ⁠Time is of the essence: WHO statistics reveal that less than half of Indian adults achieve desired activity levels, and inactivity has caused an epidemic of non-communicable disease.

 

Outlook:

 

Rainmatter's commitment—aided by patient capital and a collaborative approach—augurs well for a long-term vision to revolutionize India's health ecosystem. As more startups enter the field, watch out for a new wave of innovation that makes fitness fun, affordable, and a seamless part of everyday life for millions. 

 

Source: Fortune India, Rainmatter, The Hindu BusinessLine