No Strings Bets on Gamification to Build the Future of Padel

We’re entering a new era of padel both in the US and internationally where incorporating new ways of entertainment and fun will become strong tools to grow the sport. And no one understands this better than the team over at No Strings, a Miami-based padel platform that promises a new approach to the sport where gamification will turn rallies into rewards, products, and real-money competitions.

First announced last March with a $1.3 million pre-seed round, No Strings made a major move last October by partnering with Lucra, a social competition platform, offering a promising glimpse into what’s ahead for the company. The partnership brings Lucra’s technology into No Strings’ mobile ecosystem, in-venue kiosks, and on-court screens, empowering players to compete in head-to-head matches, knockout tournaments, and group play for everything from $5 cash to limited-edition sponsored products.

While sports are no stranger to gamification, this is unlike anything we’ve seen in the world of racket sports. These capabilities open the potential of padel as more than just exercise. It will become a new form of entertainment and community that is important to attracting players and keeping them coming back for more.

Over the past couple months, No Strings has continued to show signs of fast growth as it quickly bulked up its advisory board with two key additions.

Announced in December, No Strings added Barry’s Bootcamp Executive Chairman Joey Gonzalez to its advisory board. He led the boutique fitness brand's expansion from 10 to more than 80 locations worldwide. In this role, he will advise on brand development, operational scaling, and consumer experience strategy.

And just this past week, No Strings made another key addition to the advisory board with F1 Arcade Founder Adam Breeden. Breeden is the founder of F1 Arcade, and co-founder of Flight Club Darts, Puttshack, Bounce, and Hijingo, scaling them into global eatertainment brands. Breeden will focus his expertise on brand positioning, venue design, corporate development, and licensing strategy, ensuring proprietary technology is embedded into operations from the outset.

"I've built multiple global eatertainment concepts, and this has the clearest shot at category ownership I've seen," said Breeden. "Padel has outstanding fundamentals: it's accessible, viral, and drives incredible repeat engagement. No Strings has the team and the technology to build a category-defining platform, not just a facility."

While they may be new faces to the padel world, both Gonzalez and Breeden have become leaders in building and scaling globally-recognized brands. Their efforts will be key in creating a unique experience for players and keep them coming back for more.

As No Strings continues to ramp up in preparation for launch, it is exciting to see what is in store for these innovative padel clubs. This model has the potential to attract current padel players as well as new players in a gamified experience that adds another exciting chapter in the sport’s growth.