Padel, a hybrid of tennis and squash, has exploded across Europe and Latin America, with 30 million players worldwide. Yet in the United States, the sport is still in its infancy, with fewer than 700 courts. Epic Padel, a Virginia-based operator and investor, is betting it can change that.
The company announced Wednesday that it has raised $10 million in an oversubscribed seed round to launch its first U.S. clubs and back new ventures in the global padel ecosystem. Investors included NowaisWorld, the sports investment arm of Nowais Inc., Stryde Ventures, 305 Ventures, High Water Venture Partners, Lane Holdings, Off Court Ventures, Silverback Capital Group, as well as angel investors such as Elias Sultan and Sharam Gulzad. Cultural figures and athletes, including Omar Nour, Tre Boston and NHL star Nicklas Bäckström, also joined the round.
Founded by Maryam Al Muslehi and Hala Sarkis, Epic Padel aims to build what it calls a “vertically integrated platform” for the sport — combining club operations, early-stage investments and tech infrastructure. The company is already operating its first club in North Carolina and plans to open four to six more in the coming months, in states including Virginia, Wisconsin, South Carolina and Utah.
“Our ambition is to create the leading padel platform in North America — not just by building clubs, but by investing across the sport’s ecosystem: from events and equipment to tech and talent,” said Hala Sarkis, Epic’s chief executive. “This funding positions us to scale with speed, strategy, and strong backing.”
Epic’s approach is a departure from the luxury-focused model that dominates U.S. racquet sports. Instead, the company is targeting tier-2 cities, with clubs designed to be inclusive and affordable. Its business model also emphasizes turning underutilized real estate — parking lots, warehouses, even aging racquet clubs — into community sports hubs.
“We saw padel explode across the MENA region, and realized how far behind the U.S. was,” said Ms. Al Muslehi, Epic’s founder and board member. “We want to bring the sport to all 50 states through clubs, leagues, and investments that build long-term foundations.”
The firm has also invested in the wider ecosystem, taking stakes in the Pro Padel League and its New York franchise, the New York Atlantics, as well as in clubs like Ultra Padel in Miami and Padel Haus in New York. Its portfolio includes technology ventures such as Clutch AI, which provides real-time video and data, and Red Padel, which operates the World Padel Rating system.
“Our portfolio gives us strategic value across operators, technology, leagues, teams, and tournaments,” said Kareem Anabtawi, Epic’s co-founder and chief investment officer. “We’re able to collaborate on initiatives that lift the entire ecosystem, not just one operator. In many ways, we’re creating a ‘Padel Index,’ investing in the sport as a whole rather than a single bet. As padel begins to institutionalize globally, putting the sport at a stage where its most exciting growth is still ahead.”
The company is also working to bring padel into American college campuses with a new College Padel League, and plans to roll out a member app, Zero.40, that integrates smart booking, performance analytics and community features. A merchandise line, developed with athlete-investors, is also in the works.
“Padel is more than a sport, it’s a lifestyle,” said Tim Bainton, Epic’s chief operating officer and a veteran of the racquet sports industry. “We’re building clubs that welcome everyone, not just the elite. And through tech, partnerships, and real community engagement, we’re making it possible.”
Looking ahead, Epic Padel says it will continue expanding across the United States while strengthening its international portfolio. Its long-term goal: to help close the 30,000-court gap Deloitte predicts the U.S. will need to fill by 2030, and make padel part of everyday life for millions of Americans.