A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – MOBILE GAMING
- Big Viking Games, an Ontario-based HTML5 mobile game developer raised $21.5M in a Series B funding round led by Royal Bank of Canada, Export Development Canada, and BDC Capital. Link
- Play Simple, a Bangalore-based casual game developer raised $4M in a Series A funding round led by SAIF Partners and IDG Ventures India. Link
- Helsinki-based mid-core mobile game development studio ‘Boom Lagoon’ founded by ex – Rovio employees acquired by game developer and publisher Wargaming.net for an undisclosed amount. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Photon Tadpole (2016, Mumbai) a mobile game studio founded by Hrishi Oberoi, ex – Director of Disney & India Games.The studio is working on their first game as on November 2016.
Oshien (2016, Nashville) a game development studio focusing on Augmented Reality games for mobile platforms.Working on their first Augmented Reality card game as on November 2016.
LEADER BOARD – MOBILE GAMING
Game Developers – Multi Genre Games
Zynga (2007, SF, IPO) – Casual video games developer and publisher for mobile and web platforms – famous for games such as Farmville. Went public in 2011.
King (2003, London, IPO, Acq.) – Mobile game developer specializing in casual games – famous for the Candy Crush series. Went public in 2014.Acquired by Activision Blizzard in November 2015.
Funplus (2010, Beijing, $87M, Acq.) – Video game developer focusing on online and mobile platforms. Backed by Orchid Asia Group Management and Steamboat Ventures.Acquired by Shanghai Zhongji Investment Holding Co in August 2014.
Rovio Entertainment (2003, Espoo, $42M) – Mobile games developer specializing in casual games – famous for the Angry Birds series. Backed by Accel Partners, Atomico and Felicis Ventures.
Game Developers – Casino Games
Playtika (2010, Tel Aviv, $1M, Acq.) – Video game developer specializing in casino games for mobile and web platforms. Backed by Kaedan Capital Group. Acquired by Cesar Interactive for $85M in May, 2011.
Bash Gaming (2010, Bangalore, $1M, Acq.) – Developer of casino games for social and mobile platforms. Backed by Tandem Capital. Acquired by GSN games for $165M in March 2014.
PlayStudios (2011, Burlingame, $29M) – Casino games developer focusing on mobile and social platforms. Backed by Jafco Ventures and MGM Resorts International.
Game Developers – Educational Games
Lumosity (2005, San Francisco, $67.5M) – Video game developer specializing in cognitive learning games for mobile and web platforms. Backed by Firstmark Capital and Menlo Ventures.
Peak (2012, London, $10M) – Developer of brain training games for mobile platforms. Backed by Qualcomm Ventures and Initial Capital.
Game Developers – Kids Games
Mind Candy (2003, London, $21.5M) – Video game developer specializing kids games for mobile and web platforms. Backed by Accel Partners and Index Ventures.
Tab Tale (2010, Ramat Hasharon, $13.5M) – Developer of kids interacting games and applications for mobile platforms. Backed by Qualcomm Ventures and Magma Ventures.
Game Developers – Mid-Core Games
GREE (2004, Tokyo, IPO) – Mobile social media and social gaming. Went public in 2008.
Glu Mobile (2001, SF, IPO) – Mobile games developer and publisher specializing in mid-core games. Went public in 2007.
Gumi (2007, Tokyo, IPO) – Mobile games developer and publisher specializing in mid-core games. Went public in 2014.
Supercell (2010, Helsinki, $143M, Acq.) – Mobile game developer specializing in mid-core games – famous for games such as Clash of Clans and Boom Beach. Backed by Lifeline Ventures, Accel Partners, Initial Capital, Index Ventures and others. Acquired by SoftBank in October 2013.
Kabam (2006, SF, $244.5M) – Video game developer and publisher for mobile and web platforms. Backed by Canaan Partners, Betfair, Google Ventures, Pinnacle Ventures and others.
Gaming Platforms
DeNA (1999, Tokyo, IPO) – Provides a mobile social games platform that offers first-, second- and third-party games on multiple localized player networks worldwide. Went public in 2005.
WildTangent Games (1998, Redmond, $100.5M) – Mobile and Web gaming platform. Backed by Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Sony, WPP, Granite Ventures and others.
PlayPhone (2003, San Mateo, $95M) – Mobile gaming platform for social games. Backed by Scale Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Cardinal Venture Capital and Coral Capital Management.
Game Publishers
ngmoco (2008, SF, $45M, Acq.) – Mobile Games publisher. Backed by Google Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and others.Acquired by DeNA in October 2010.
Chukong Technologies (2010, Beijing, $83M) – Mobile gaming and publishing platform. Backed by Northern Light Venture Capital, Steamboat Ventures, Sequoia Capital, GGV Capital and others.
6Waves (2008, Hong Kong, $53M) – Video Game publisher focusing on mobile and web platforms. Backed by Insight Venture Partners and Nexon.
Gaming Enablers – Monetization
PlayHaven (2009, SF, $30M, Acq.) -Mobile game monetization platform. Backed by LaunchBox Digital, GGV Capital, e.ventures and others.Acquired by RockYou in May 2015.
Unity Technologies (2004, SF, $198.5M) – Creator of tools to develop games for multiple platforms. Backed by Sequoia, WestSummit Capital, iGlobe Partners and others.
RockYou (2005, SF, $169M) – Cross-platform premium video ad network for games. Backed by DCM, Partech Ventures, SK Telecom Ventures, SoftBank and others.
Swrve (2011, SF, $51M) – In-app marketing platform for mobile apps and games. Backed by Acero Capital, Atlantic Bridge, Intel Capital, Evolution Capital Partners and others.
Kamcord (2012, SF, $35M) – Web and mobile platform to record and share mobile gameplays. Backed by Y Combinator, Innovation Works, Tencent, IW North America and others.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
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