From M&A Advisory to Early Stage Sports Tech Investor - Uday Khanna, 1406 Park Lane Partners #263

In this episode of the Sports Tech AllStars Podcast, we present Uday Khanna, Co-Founder of 1406 Park Lane Partners and angel investor in sports tech.The conversation explores how a career in M&A transaction advisory led Uday to co-found an early stage investment syndicate focused on sports, emerging sports and wellness, why bringing institutional rigour to pre-seed investing is a genuine edge, and how groups like EBAN Sports are filling a critical gap in the European sports tech funding landscape.Takeaways1406 Park Lane Partners combines M&A advisory, investment banking and private equity experience to bring institutional discipline to early stage sports tech investingThe syndicate's core value proposition is smart capital Emerging sports, data infrastructure and wellness and fitness are the three primary thesis areas for the syndicateMost business angels invest locally by default — cross-border early stage sports tech investment in Europe remains rare and underservedCommunities like EBAN Sports are crucial for connecting sports industry insiders with experienced investors who understand how to scale businessesThe gap between early stage venture and PE is exactly where 1406 Park Lane Partners tries to add value — helping founders understand what institutional readiness looks like before they need itSports tech is still early as an asset class — the deal volume and value has not yet caught up with sectors like healthcare or fintech, but the trajectory is clearPre-seed and early seed is where angel syndicates can have the most impact — founders are more open to collaboration before institutional VCs arriveTo learn more, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1406-park-lane-partnersGet in touch with Uday Khanna at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/upluskHosted by Rohn Malhotra from SportsTechX - Leading source of Investment and Innovation insights in sports.STX Intelligence Hub: sports tech company, investor, and deal database: intelligence.sportstechx.comAs promised, here's your small surprise:Unlock your 30-day growth plan (worth €49) on the SportsTechX Intelligence Hub for free!Simply verify your company details and you get access to 1,500+ investors, programmes, initiatives and events in the sportstech ecosystem.Here's how to get set up and if you'd like a walkthrough of the platform, feel free to book a call here.Download the latest Industry Reports here: https://intelligence.sportstechx.com/reports/gster26Sign Up for the Sports Tech Weekly Newsletter for more news, features & insights on Sports Tech: https://newsletter.sportstechx.com/Chapters00:00 Introduction00:41 What Is 1406 Park Lane Partners and Where Did the Name Come From02:54 From M&A Advisory to Early Stage Sports Tech Investor03:38 Combining M&A, Investment Banking and PE Experience in One Syndicate06:02 Check Size, Deal Stage and Who 1406 Invests In07:54 Smart Capital — Helping Founders Become VC Ready09:19 Thesis Areas: Emerging Sports, Data Infrastructure and Wellness12:23 Pre-Seed and Early Seed as the Sweet Spot for Angel Syndicates13:21 Why Uday Joined EBAN Sports and What It Has Delivered15:25 Using EBAN Sports as a Deal Flow Source and Jury Member16:03 What EBAN Sports Is and How to Get Involved17:44 What PE Experience Brings to Early Stage Investing20:11 What PE Readiness Actually Looks Like and Why It Matters for Founders21:48 The Growing Wave of PE Interest in Sports and Sports Tech22:01 What the Next 12–18 Months Look Like for 1406 Park Lane Partners25:17 Training for a Half Marathon in Madrid and the Tech Used Along the Way27:42 Favourite Sporting MomentStay Connected with SportsTechXSpotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sportstechx/Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/the-sports-tech-allstars-podcast/id1271329751LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sportstechxYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SportsTechX