Former Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar has invested in the Hyderabad-based waste management company Recykal. The startup announced the investment on Wednesday, noting that Tendulkar joined the company as part of an extension to a previously closed $23 million bridge funding round.
Recykal did not disclose the specific financial terms of Tendulkar’s contribution. The company previously raised $17.6 million in equity funding in June, alongside a $5.4 million secondary component involving existing investors and family offices.
Company Operations and Market Reach
Founded in 2016 by Abhay Deshpande, Abhishek Deshpande, Ekta Narain, Vikram Prabakar, and Anirudha Jalan, Recykal operates a business-to-business marketplace for recyclable materials. The company provides software solutions that enable brands to track plastic and e-waste recycling to meet regulatory compliance requirements.
The startup recently introduced a deposit return system, which utilizes reverse vending machines to recover consumer packaging. Under this model, consumers pay a refundable deposit on containers and receive the funds upon returning the items to collection points. Recykal reports a network of more than 5,000 waste aggregators and recyclers, serving approximately 650 enterprise clients, including Samsung, BMW, and Hindustan Unilever.
Financial Performance and Portfolio
Recykal has raised over $60 million in total funding to date. Its backers include Morgan Stanley, 360 ONE, Circulate Capital, and the Murugappa Group. According to company data, Recykal reported gross revenue of ₹1,498 crore for the fiscal year 2026, a 53.2% increase from the previous year. Losses for the same period rose 7% to ₹60 crore.
Tendulkar’s investment follows his recent backing of the mobile gaming startup Metasports Interactive. The former athlete also holds stakes in other ventures, including the used car marketplace Spinny and the fintech company Kissht.