Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has joined Hyderabad-based waste management technology startup Recykal as a strategic investor, marking another investment by the cricket legend in India’s growing startup ecosystem. The company confirmed that Tendulkar’s investment extends its $23 million bridge funding round, which it closed in June 2026. Recykal has not disclosed the amount invested or the precise ownership stake acquired by Tendulkar.
The investment brings greater visibility to a company working at the intersection of technology, recycling and the circular economy. Recykal operates a digital marketplace for recyclable materials and provides software solutions that help businesses manage waste recovery and meet environmental compliance requirements. The company plans to use its existing funding to strengthen its technology platform, expand its Deposit Return System and support international expansion.
Sachin Tendulkar Joins Recykal as Strategic Investor
Recykal announced Tendulkar’s association on November 13, 2026, describing him as a strategic investor in the company.
According to the startup, his investment was made as an extension of the $23 million bridge round completed in June. The company has not revealed the financial details of his participation.
The investment is understood to involve a minority stake, although the exact shareholding percentage has not been publicly disclosed.
Tendulkar said he was attracted to Recykal’s use of technology to address an everyday environmental challenge. He also highlighted the company’s ambition to encourage responsible waste-management behaviour among one billion people.
His involvement is expected to support the startup’s efforts to increase public awareness of waste segregation, recycling and material recovery.
For Recykal, the association brings an investor with substantial public recognition and the potential to help communicate its environmental mission to a wider audience.
Recykal’s $23 Million Bridge Funding Round
Tendulkar’s investment extends Recykal’s $23 million bridge funding round, which was announced in June 2026.
The round included both primary and secondary capital:
| Funding component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Primary equity funding | $17.6 million |
| Secondary share transaction | $5.4 million |
| Total funding round | $23 million |
The primary component provides capital to the company for business expansion, technology development and operational requirements. The secondary component involves the sale of existing shares by shareholders rather than an equivalent amount of fresh capital entering the company’s balance sheet.
The June round included participation from existing investors and select new family offices.
Recykal said the capital would support three major priorities:
- Strengthening its technology platform and Open Marketplace.
- Expanding its Deposit Return System for recovering consumer packaging.
- Supporting international business expansion.
Tendulkar’s investment adds another participant to the funding round, although the company has not announced a revised total funding figure following his entry.
What Does Recykal Do?
Founded in 2015, Recykal is a Hyderabad-based cleantech company focused on digitising waste management and recycling operations.
Its business model connects companies generating recyclable waste with waste aggregators, collection networks and recycling businesses.
The company operates a business-to-business marketplace where recyclable materials can be traded and recovered. It also provides digital tools that help brands monitor waste collection, recycling activities and compliance with regulations covering plastic and electronic waste.
Recykal’s platform addresses several challenges in the waste-management industry, including fragmented collection networks, limited visibility into material movement and difficulties tracking whether discarded materials reach authorised recycling facilities.
Its technology helps businesses coordinate waste collection, document transactions and monitor material recovery across the supply chain.
The company says it has channelled more than three million tonnes of waste through its network and works with over 650 enterprise brands and more than 5,000 waste aggregators and recyclers.
Its reported enterprise customers include Hindustan Unilever, Samsung and BMW.
Deposit Return System Is a Key Growth Area
One of Recykal’s important expansion areas is its Deposit Return System (DRS), which aims to increase the recovery of consumer packaging.
Under this model, customers pay a refundable deposit when purchasing products in eligible containers. They receive the deposit back when they return the empty packaging to designated collection points.
The system creates a financial incentive for consumers to return used containers rather than discard them.
For example, a consumer purchasing a beverage in a participating container could receive a refund after returning the empty bottle to an authorised collection point.
The collected packaging can then enter the recycling supply chain.
Recykal’s approach combines digital technology, collection infrastructure and consumer participation. Its platform is designed to help track returned packaging and coordinate the movement of recovered materials.
The company is also developing reverse vending machine services. These machines allow consumers to deposit used packaging at designated locations, supporting more organised collection and recovery.
Expanding the DRS business could help Recykal increase its role beyond industrial waste management and build a stronger connection with individual consumers.
Recykal Reports ₹1,498 Crore Revenue in FY26
Recykal has also expanded its business operations and reported substantial revenue growth.
According to figures shared by the company with Inc42 in June 2026, its gross revenue increased 53.2% to ₹1,498 crore in FY26, compared with ₹978 crore in FY25.
However, the company also reported an increase in losses.
| Financial indicator | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|
| Gross revenue | ₹978 crore | ₹1,498 crore |
| Net loss | ₹56 crore | ₹60 crore |
| Revenue growth | — | 53.2% |
The figures indicate that Recykal expanded its business considerably during FY26, but the growth did not translate into improved profitability.
Its losses increased by approximately 7% year-on-year, highlighting the costs associated with scaling a technology-enabled waste-management network.
The company’s ability to improve operating efficiency, generate recurring revenue and manage collection and logistics expenses will be important as it expands its business.
Recykal’s Existing Investors and Startup Backing
Recykal has attracted investments from several institutional investors and business groups.
Its existing backers include Morgan Stanley, 360 ONE, Circulate Capital and the Murugappa Group.
With Tendulkar joining as a strategic investor, the company is adding a high-profile individual investor to its existing shareholder base.
The investment also comes as Recykal looks to strengthen its position in India’s circular economy market, where businesses are increasingly required to monitor waste generation, recycling and environmental compliance.
For investors, the opportunity extends beyond traditional waste collection. Technology platforms that connect businesses, consumers, aggregators and recyclers could play a larger role in making material recovery more organised and measurable.
Sachin Tendulkar Expands His Startup Investment Portfolio
The Recykal investment is part of Tendulkar’s wider involvement in India’s startup ecosystem.
He has previously backed businesses across different sectors, including used-car marketplace Spinny, fintech company Kissht and activewear brand Ten X You.
He also recently invested in Metasports Interactive, the company behind mobile cricket strategy game Hitwicket.
His latest investment demonstrates an interest in businesses operating beyond traditional sports and entertainment.
For Recykal, Tendulkar’s participation is intended to go beyond financial investment. The company expects his public profile to help encourage greater participation in recycling and responsible waste disposal.
The Bigger Picture
Recykal’s latest investment highlights the growing interest in India’s cleantech and circular economy businesses. Waste management is increasingly becoming a technology-driven industry, with companies developing digital marketplaces, traceability systems and collection infrastructure to improve the recovery of recyclable materials.
India’s waste-management ecosystem remains fragmented, making coordination between waste generators, collection agencies and recycling facilities a significant challenge. Platforms that improve transparency and connect these participants could help make recycling operations more organised.
However, scaling such businesses requires more than technology. Collection infrastructure, logistics, consumer participation and the economics of recovering different materials will determine whether these models can become commercially sustainable. Recykal’s revenue growth is encouraging, but its FY26 loss figures show that profitability remains an important challenge.
Looking Ahead
Recykal plans to use its existing funding and investor support to strengthen its technology platform, expand its Deposit Return System and explore international markets. Tendulkar’s investment could help the company increase public awareness and encourage more consumers to participate in organised recycling initiatives. The company has not disclosed the amount he invested or the exact stake acquired.
The startup’s next phase will depend on its ability to expand its network, increase the volume of recovered materials and improve its financial performance. With more than 650 enterprise brands and over 5,000 aggregators and recyclers in its network, Recykal has established a substantial operating presence. Its ability to convert that reach into sustainable profitability will be an important measure of its long-term growth.
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