Asia
Gaming platform Zupee closes Series B at over $500 Million valuation
Zupee, a leading innovator in India’s online skill-based gaming industry, has announced that it has raised $30 million at a pre-money valuation of $500 million in Series B funding round. This round of funding has been co-led by Silicon Valley based WestCap Group and Tomales Bay Capital, with participation from Matrix Partners India & Orios Venture Partners.
This round comes within 6 months after its Series A round at a $100 million valuation, which is more than 5x increase in the company’s valuation. With total funds raised now at $49 million, Zupee is backed by some of the best in the industry – WestCap Group, Matrix Partners India, Smile Group and Orios Partners. The company has an existing user base of over 10 million users. This new round of funding will be used to enable scaling efforts through expanded product portfolio, deepening market reach and hiring global talent.
Founded in 2018 by graduates of India’s leading institution IIT Kanpur, Dilsher Singh and Siddhant Saurabh, and incubated with funding from Smile Group, Zupee innovates by reengineering time-tested games and enabling them to enhance skill, joy and hope. The company’s portfolio has innovative gaming formats of multiple popular board games. The flagship gaming app hosts live trivia quiz tournaments and has seen over 250 million gameplays.
Dilsher Singh, Founder and CEO, Zupee said, “Games inherently celebrate the journey and nurture self-expression. That’s what I am committed to building with Zupee – an organization which enables people anywhere in the world to enhance their intrinsic happiness through games. We innovate to ensure our games provide an intersection between skill and entertainment, enabling our users to earn while they play. We thank our investors for believing in our purpose and enabling us to progress on our journey to transforming it to reality. Our journey has just begun; 10 million happy users in India, billions more globally we want to touch through our innovative games.”
“WestCap remains a key strategic investor and operating advisor to Zupee and we are increasing our interest again as part of this most recent funding round,” commented Laurence A. Tosi, Founder and Managing Partner of WestCap and early investor in Zupee. “Dilsher and his world class team have innovated some of the most compelling and widely used mobile games of skill in India. The enduring appeal of the Zupee games brings engagement, enjoyment and empowerment to the widest audience of any gaming platform in the market. This funding will enable the Zupee team to invest further in innovation, expand its suite of games and aggressively pursue international expansion. Zupee has exponentially accelerated its growth over the last 12 months, making them one of the largest and fastest growing game companies globally.”
According to industry reports, the global online gaming industry is estimated to grow from $98 billion in 2020 to $272 billion in 2030. In 2020, the industry saw over 53 billion mobile gaming downloads worldwide, of which 17% came from India. By the end of this year itself, there will be 2.9 billion players worldwide.
Asia
8Bit Creatives partners with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive talent partner for DreamHack India
8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent management agency, has announced its partnership with NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, as the exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024.
With this partnership, 8Bit Creatives will leverage its significant reach in the Indian gaming, esports and youth communities through its prominent and talented roster of creators. These creators will create content leading up to the festival and also host meet-and-greet sessions.
India’s biggest gaming festival, DreamHack India, is set to take place from 15th to 17th November at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, marking its fifth edition. For half a decade, the India edition of the global festival has become one of the most anticipated events of the Indian gaming ecosystem. Bringing together a plethora of events, including esports tournaments, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) events, cosplay competitions, music concerts, and stand-up comedy, DreamHack India is the celebration of gaming, esports, pop-culture, and entertainment.
8Bit Creatives, CEO and founder Animesh Agarwal said “DreamHack India is one of the most prominent events in the Indian gaming and esports calendar and we’re proud to be the exclusive talent partners for it. This is further recognition of 8Bit Creatives’ ability to meaningfully engage the gaming and youth audiences across the country. Our belief in working with the right creators who create experiences that resonate with the youth audiences distinguishes our offerings and we can’t wait to share what we have in store for DreamHack India 2024 with our audiences!”
This is not the first time that 8Bit Creatives will partner with DreamHack India. The organisation was also the talent partner for the event in 2022.
Commenting on the partnership, NODWIN Gaming, Co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee said “Our vision at NODWIN Gaming is to create unforgettable experiences for the youth, and DreamHack has proven to be the ultimate platform to realise that vision, bringing together gaming, entertainment, and community in an immersive celebration. We’re thrilled to have 8Bit Creatives as our exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024. It’s especially exciting to welcome iconic creators like Mortal, who joined us in our very first edition, back for this landmark fifth year, alongside fan favourites like Snax, Kaashvi, Thug, and Payal. These creators bring a unique energy that connects deeply with our fans and elevates every moment. Their presence underscores our commitment to crafting electrifying experiences year after year, building on the momentum of events like BGMS and past DreamHack editions. Together with 8Bit and this powerhouse lineup, we’re setting the stage for an unforgettable event that will bring fans and creators closer than ever before!”
8Bit Creatives’s content and esports division S8UL became the only organisation in the year to win ‘Content Group of the Year’ award for the third consecutive year at the Esports Awards 2024. Additionally, they are the only organisation from India to ever win an Esports Award in any category. Earlier this year, gaming content creators from 8Bit Creatives including Naman Mathur, Payal Dhare and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal were invited for a meet and greet session with the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The organisation has been at the forefront of India’s gaming and content ecosystem with its extensive range of services, including talent management, campaign curation and execution, brand activations and more.
The post 8Bit Creatives partners with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive talent partner for DreamHack India appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
FeedConstruct Secures Exclusive International Streaming and Data Collection Rights for Korean Volleyball Leagues
FeedConstruct is excited to enhance its offerings with the addition of another significant Korean sports content. Based on the new partnership, the company has secured exclusive international streaming and data rights for all matches of Korea’s Volleyball Leagues and Cup competitions.
Korea’s V-League is one of the most prestigious and competitive volleyball leagues worldwide, particularly in Asia, renowned for its high-level matches and featuring top-tier local and international talents. FeedConstruct will cover all the matches from both the men’s and women’s competitions, ensuring comprehensive access to this elite league and delivering premium content.
The KOVO Cup, a highly anticipated annual event, serves as a lead-up to the V-League season, offering teams a platform to experiment with new rosters and strategies. Since 2018, the KOVO Cup has invited international teams, such as Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi, raising the tournament’s prestige and drawing significant attention from volleyball fans across the country.
Volleyball has been a prominent sport in Korea for decades, with the national teams consistently competing at high levels in major international tournaments like the Olympics and World Championships.
Reflecting on the new partnership, Narek Harutyunyan, CEO at FeedConstruct, stated: “We are thrilled to secure the exclusive international streaming and data rights for all matches of Korea’s Volleyball Leagues and Cup competitions. Korean volleyball has a rich history and a passionate fan base, and we are committed to providing comprehensive coverage of these elite competitions. This collaboration not only strengthens our global volleyball portfolio but also underscores our dedication to delivering premium sports content.”
KBSN Director Lee Ju Young, added: ‘’We are honored to collaborate with FeedConstruct on this project. We hope that Korean professional volleyball will receive more global attention. We believe that partnerships are significant because they carry weight.’’
KOVO’s Director Lee Young-ho said: “I am pleased that this partnership will enhance the global capabilities of Korean professional volleyball. It seems like a great opportunity to connect with many fans overseas through FeedConstruct. I hope this will be a good opportunity for Korean professional volleyball to grow to the next level.”
The post FeedConstruct Secures Exclusive International Streaming and Data Collection Rights for Korean Volleyball Leagues appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
NewCasinoRank Unveils Specifics of Thai New Online Casino Market
NewCasinoRank, a leading website specialising in reviewing new online casinos and covering various aspects of iGaming, has provided an in-depth analysis of the emerging online casino scene in Thailand. As Thailand remains one of the most frequented locations accessing NewCasinoRank, the team is dedicated to delivering precise and relevant information that aligns with the country’s strict gambling regulations.
Gambling in Thailand is heavily regulated under the Gambling Act of 1935, which prohibits most forms of gambling except for the government-run lottery and horse racing. Despite these restrictions, the popularity of online casinos continues to grow, driven by increasing internet accessibility. According to Statista, the online gambling market in Thailand is projected to grow by 5.56% (2024-2028), resulting in a market volume of €628.90m in 2028.
Thai players frequently visit NewCasinoRank to find reliable information on accessible new online casinos that comply with local laws. To meet this demand, NewCasinoRank’s team meticulously curates content that adheres to Thailand’s legal framework, ensuring players have access to safe and trustworthy gaming options.
Chloe O’Sullivan, CasinoRank’s Writer, emphasizes the platform’s commitment: “We highly value our Thai audience and strive to provide up-to-date information on our dedicated Thailand page. This comprehensive resource includes special features of new casino sites in Thailand, the most popular casino game developers in the country, an overview of the average bonus values based on market trends and local currency, and much more.”
Samuel Adeoye, CasinoRank’s Researcher, said: “Speaking of new casinos, sometimes it’s hard to get the most accurate information because the subject is new. Still, we manage to do that by collecting data from reputable open sources and collaborating with trusted casinos that partner with NewCasinoRank. This ensures that our content is both accurate and relevant, providing Thai players with the information they need to make informed decisions.”
The post NewCasinoRank Unveils Specifics of Thai New Online Casino Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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