Why I built MatchUp: making it easier to find someone to play
By Aaryaveer Jatia, founder of MatchUp and AJ Sports Academy.
I built MatchUp around a simple problem: wanting to play does not mean you have someone suitable to play with. A racket, a free hour and enthusiasm are a start, but a game still needs another person whose sport, level, location and schedule fit yours. I wanted those practical details to be easier to compare before anyone starts arranging a session.
Why this problem matters to me
I am Aaryaveer Jatia, a 14-year-old Mumbai-based student entrepreneur and competitive tennis player. I founded AJ Sports Academy and MatchUp. Tennis makes the partner question especially clear to me: being ready to practise is different from having the right person available. As a student, I also understand that playing has to fit around other commitments, not replace them.
My founder profile on AJ Tennis gives more background. India Book of Records also recognises me as an IBR Achiever for founding AJ Sports Academy at age 14. That recognition relates to the academy, not to founding MatchUp. I see the app as a separate, practical project with a specific purpose: helping people discover someone they can arrange a game with.
Compatibility is more than the same sport
A city is too broad a starting point on its own. In Mumbai, I would ask which neighbourhoods each player can realistically reach and at what time. A short distance on a map does not always mean an easy journey. If travelling makes a session difficult to repeat, the plan needs a closer venue or a different window.
Level matters just as much, but a label is only a starting point. Someone looking for steady rallies may not want the same session as someone preparing for competitive sets. I would describe recent playing experience, what feels consistent, and whether the aim is practice or match play. That gives the other person something more useful than a broad category.
Schedule and preferred sport complete the picture. Two tennis players might be compatible on court but never free together. Someone who plays several racket sports might have different experience in each. I think a good search respects those differences instead of treating every player, or every evening, as interchangeable.
What MatchUp does today
MatchUp lets players create a profile, browse and filter players by sport, level, location and availability, and arrange a game. The idea is to make the first search more focused, so a player can look for a practical fit rather than begin with a vague request. Available features and sports can vary, so I would always check what is available in the current account.
I do not see a profile or a filter as a substitute for a conversation. They help narrow the search; the players still need to confirm their expectations, timing and venue. MatchUp does not mean there will always be a suitable player nearby, or that a court is available. The useful next step is a clear plan that both people agree to.
A practical way to begin
My advice is to start with an honest profile: your preferred sport, current level, reachable areas and specific time windows. Then choose one realistic session rather than trying to organise a perfect weekly routine immediately. Mention whether you want to rally, practise particular shots or play a match, and leave room for one alternative time.
Before travelling, confirm the public venue, start time, session length, booking arrangements and any shared court cost. For a first meeting, choose a staffed sports facility and let someone you trust know your plan. These details are not glamorous, but they are the difference between an interesting connection and a workable arrangement.