Bengaluru-based esports company Let's Game Now has raised approximately $3 million in a funding round co-led by Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra and Bestvantage Investments. The raised capital will be directed towards the development and launch of the ISGL — India's first franchise-based esports league where teams are tied to traditional football and kabaddi club brands.
The company's valuation, exact investor equity stakes, and the specific allocation of funds across categories (marketing, operations, technology) remain undisclosed at this time.
Announced in March 2026, the ISGL is built on the model of traditional sports leagues with permanent franchises. The competitions will cover disciplines such as Cricket 26, EA Sports FC 26, Call of Duty: Mobile, FAU-G, and chess.
The eight founding teams include rosters associated with established sports brands:
- Football (Indian Super League): Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, as well as the football club Inter Kashi.
- Kabaddi (Pro Kabaddi League): Puneri Paltan.
- Standalone Franchises: Bangalore Bhargavas and Andhra Agneyas.
Anand Mahindra compared the potential of the ISGL to the Pro Kabaddi League, which he also helped establish, highlighting the high level of discipline and teamwork required in professional esports. Let's Game Now was founded by Santanu Basu, a former esports athlete who represented India internationally in FIFA.
Investor interest in esports has grown following the 2025 ban on real-money gaming in India. The Indian gaming market is currently estimated at $3.8 billion, with projected growth reaching $9.2 billion by FY29, encompassing roughly 591 million gamers. Let's Game Now already boasts a portfolio of over 2,000 organized events and a reach of over 50 million viewers across 18 countries.
The exact launch date for the first ISGL season, monetization details, and franchise structure will be announced later.
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