Siddharth Shankar identifies Indian sports industry as “massively underexploited” despite IPL success, calls for entrepreneur action across multiple sporting verticals
DELHI, MAY 30, 2025 — Prominent business leader Siddharth Shankar has identified the sports industry as a prime sector for entrepreneurial innovation and investment in India, citing its massive economic potential and ripple effects across multiple industries.
In a wide-ranging interview on the Karostartup podcast, Mr. Shankar, who successfully built and sold Tails Group in a nine-figure deal, highlighted sports as a critical growth area that remains underexploited despite India’s demonstrated success with the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“We are one of the largest markets in the world,” Shankar stated. “Look at what we’ve done with IPL and cricket, how we’ve owned that space. I think we’ve got the power and the intent and the capability to replicate this.”
Shankar’s comments come as investment in sports-related ventures continues to grow globally, with particular attention focused on emerging markets. He specifically pointed to the massive economic impact of successful sports enterprises beyond simple entertainment value.
“If you look at NBA or English Premier League, any of these super successful events across the world, they bring business at a multi-fold level,” he explained. “There’s a huge ripple effect. There are huge investments. It is not about one city playing another, there’s the whole machinery that goes around.”
Shankar’s focus on sports investment extends beyond theoretical interest as he currently serves as a London-based partner and board member of Central Florida Pro Soccer, which is developing a $350 million mixed-use soccer development in Winter Garden, Florida. The project, featuring a 5,000-seat professional soccer stadium, hotel, and extensive recreational facilities, exemplifies his vision of community-centric sports ecosystems that create multi-fold economic impact.
The entrepreneur emphasized that the value creation potential in sports extends far beyond the obvious revenue streams, creating opportunities throughout the supply chain and across associated industries.
As a successful investor who has backed numerous startups, Shankar named sports as one of his primary focus areas for future investments, alongside consumer brands and innovation. “These are the two [areas] where personally I understand that space, and I urge people to do more in that space because there’s a long-term benefit for the country, for the economy.”
“We as a nation should definitely attract more [investment] in that,” Shankar concluded, encouraging entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in the sports sector to pursue their ventures with confidence. “Bring that innovation and you’ll have fun while doing it.”
About Karostartup
Founded in 2020, Karostartup is a leading platform dedicated to sharing authentic stories of startup founders across India. With over 5,000 published startup stories reaching 1 billion+ views, the platform connects 10,000+ startups through podcasts, articles, and social media content. Karostartup focuses on empowering entrepreneurs from tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India.
About Siddharth Shankar
Siddharth Shankar’s entrepreneurial journey began in India, where he started his career in banking in New Delhi before shifting to entrepreneurship. He founded and led Tails Trading, a company that grew to manage over 285 consumer brands across multiple categories and became one of the world’s largest brand portfolio companies. Under his leadership, the company established a global distribution network serving more than 150,000 customers worldwide. Shankar’s strategies included managing a £2 billion trade finance fund and navigating pandemic-related challenges by adapting the business model. In 2024, he successfully orchestrated a $500 million exit of the company’s consumer brand arm, marking a significant milestone in his entrepreneurial career.