Sachin Tendulkar takes minority stake in waste management startup Recykal

Recykal, an Indian technology company operating in the waste management and circular economy sectors, has announced that former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has joined the company as a strategic investor, acquiring a minority stake.

Tendulkar's investment extends the company's recently announced $23 million bridge funding round, which comprised a mix of primary and secondary capital from existing investors and select new family offices.

The company plans to use the association to increase awareness and adoption of responsible waste management practices. It aims to leverage Tendulkar's public profile to encourage participation in recycling, material recovery and other circular economy initiatives, with a stated ambition of driving behavioural change among one billion people.


Speaking about the investment, Sachin Tendulkar, Strategic Investor at Recykal, said, "Throughout my career, I've learnt that lasting success is built on discipline and consistent efforts, however big or small. The same is true for building a cleaner India. What drew me to Recykal was seeing how technology was being used to solve an everyday problem. Recykal’s mission to use technology to drive behavioural change across 1 billion people is what really connected with me, and I hope together we can encourage more people to make responsible choices every day."

As a strategic investor, Tendulkar is expected to support the company's efforts to promote responsible waste management practices, including recycling and material recovery, and increase participation in the circular economy.

Abhay Deshpande, CEO and co-founder of Recykal, said, "Recykal was built on a simple conviction that the circular economy is fundamentally a technology problem. Deposit Return Systems are perhaps the clearest expression of this thesis, bringing together technology, logistics and behavioural change to transform how packaging waste is recovered. To have Sachin join us as a strategic investor is incredibly meaningful. For decades, he has inspired millions of Indians through his discipline, integrity and ability to unite people around a common purpose. Together, we hope to inspire a movement where doing the right thing for the environment becomes an everyday habit."

Recykal closed its USD 23 million bridge funding round in June 2026. The funding included primary and secondary capital from existing investors and select new family offices.

The company is deploying the capital to strengthen its technology platform and Open Marketplace, expand its Deposit Return System (DRS), and support its international expansion. The DRS is intended to improve the recovery of packaging waste by combining technology, logistics and consumer participation.

Tendulkar's investment forms an extension of the June funding round.