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<ul><li>WinZo, a vernacular Indian e-sports platforms, just invested $1.5 million to support local game developers in India. </li><li><keyword id="2774534" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Paavan-Nanda">Paavan Nanda</keyword>, former co-founder of <keyword id="2232457" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zostel">Zostel</keyword>, and <keyword id="3227125" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saumya-Singh">Saumya Singh</keyword>, a former member of the <keyword id="7888391" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="zorooms">ZORooms</keyword> team, are aiming to make WinZo a ‘household name' by the end of 2020.</li><li>The aim of the investment is to find independent game developers and partner with gaming studios to bring more original gaming content onto the e-sports platform.</li></ul>WinZo, India's largest gaming platform which is available in local languages, announced a $1.5 million fund to support game developers in India's gaming ecosystem. Founded by Paavan Nanda, former co-founder of ZORooms and Zostel, and Saumya Singh, a former member of the ZORooms team, WinZO is aiming to be a ‘household' name in India by the end of 2020 by targeting first time users in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The Kalaari Capital-backed gaming platform wants to get the best of the talent with its new investment by "supporting and recognizing the small <keyword id="7888389" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-game-developers">Indian game developers</keyword> who are sitting and making games in isolation," Singh told Business Insider India. So far, WinZo has 27 games on their platform — all made by game developers in India — but they're, more or less adaptations of existing games in the market. "Through this fund we are looking to partner with Gaming Studios as well as Independent Game Developers by offering them an infrastructure to develop top quality content and a powerful platform to monetize their games from day 1," adds Nanda. Monetizing gaming "We have a very strong emphasis on ensuring that the cost of developing a game gets compensated either through the platform or through the basic investment done by WinZO when it contracts a developer to make a game exclusively for the platform, " explains Singh. And, any game that gets pulled onto the platform, gets a share of the revenue. And, where does the revenue come from? As much as 20% of the users on WinZO are making their first online payment using the platform. "We aggregate the existing content and add an e-sports real money layer to it, so people are incentivised to make micro payments," says Singh. The incentive of winning combined, gives the user the thrill of playing with real money and WinZO a 10% platform commission.

A new $1.5 million fund is looking for good game developers in India

As <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=investors">investors</a> are rushing to put money in new-born <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=startup">startups</a>, there is more than moolah that startup founders want. 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=founders">Startup founders</a> have begun giving more importance to their investors and are looking to bring <keyword id="1634680" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="seed-investors">seed investors</keyword> on board under whom they can get the right grooming, in a bid to grow right. 
 
A good seed investor is one who works closely with the founders and helps them in analysing the product-market fit for their offering and standing out of the crowd. 
 
Paavan Nanda of ZO Rooms told ET it is very important for an investor to believe in a portfolio startup's vision, trust the team, and give them the freedom to work independently. 
 
Support from the beginning is critical in helping a startup scale quickly. 
 
In a survey of funded entrepreneurs by ET and Tracxn, seed investors in India were rated high for their ability to open doors for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=partnership">partnerships</a>, back founders' judgment, and reach out to other investors for the next <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=funding">funding</a> round. 
 
Mayank Kumar, cofounder and CEO of months-old logistics startup Opinio, benefitted from this. 
 
"Accel helped us tremendously in talent acquisition. They gave us a few personally vetted profiles within a 24-hour turnaround. They would also connect you to any CEO in the country immediately," said Kumar. 
 
(Image: Thinkstock)

New-born startups want parenting from investors for right grooming

Leading vernacular gaming platform <keyword id="7830073" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="winzo" source="Orion">WinZo</keyword> on Tuesday said it has acquired Gurugram-based casual game development studio <keyword id="14253012" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="upskillz-games" source="Orion">Upskillz Games</keyword> for an undisclosed sum in an all-cash deal. WinZO will collaborate with the <keyword id="14253011" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="upskillz" source="Orion">Upskillz</keyword> team from the concept stage of new game developments and will share support in terms of its technical expertise and resources. The acquisition will see WinZO onboarding the Blockchain and Web3-based offering from Upskillz as a part of its content portfolio while adding Upskillz's 1.3 million captive audience base to its platform. "WinZO is committed to unlock the latent potential of the Indian game development industry and set India at its rightful position as a leader of this $100 billion global mobile gaming market," said <keyword id="2774534" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="paavan-nanda" source="Orion">Paavan Nanda</keyword>, Co-founder of WinZO. WinZO recently made investments in Bengaluru-based Bombay Play, UK-based Village Studio and IndiGG, a blockchain based Gaming Guild under its $26 Million 'Game Developer Fund. The gaming platform has registered user base of over 80 million and hosts more than 100 games across 6+ formats of diverse genres. Since its inception, Upskillz has recorded a tremendous growth in users and revenues cumulatively growing at a CMGR of 75 per cent since May 2021. "Together, we are committed to develop world-class gaming titles powered by modern technology for users in India and globally," said <keyword id="14253013" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mannit-sidhu" source="Orion">Mannit Sidhu</keyword>, Founder, Upskillz. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/it-cities-have-the-least-number-of-vacant-office-spaces-whereas-metros-like-delhi-and-mumbai-have-the-most/articleshow/92363232.cms">IT cities have the least number of vacant office spaces whereas metros like Delhi and Mumbai have the most</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/recession-in-the-us-could-drop-oil-prices-and-benefit-indian-economy-as-per-economists/articleshow/92361936.cms">A US recession could provide Indian economy the relief it needs</a>

WinZO acquires Gurugram-based game development studio Upskillz

New Delhi, Mar 19 () Vernacular e-sports gaming platform WinZO on Thursday said it has partnered with Tencent Games India for PUBG mobile tournaments on its platform. Under this partnership, PUBG mobile game will be available in 10 regional languages of India on the WinZO platform. "Tencent India's trust in WinZO is a testament to our unique vision and our distinctive strategy to develop a Netflix of Gaming. Together, we aspire to bring the best gaming experience to the mobile-first audience of Bharat," said WinZO co-founder Paavan Nanda. WinZO claims to have deep penetration in the non-urban regions of tier-III and V cities and towns with 80 per cent of the players are consuming the app in their own languages including Hindi, Bangla, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi and Bhojpuri. "WinZO will be now conducting PUBG mobile's free-to-enter e-sports tournaments with prizes over Rs 1 crore per month," the company said in a statement. WinZO crossed the 20 million install base mark in a record time of less than a year with 90 per cent of its users coming from tier-II to V cities of India. The Delhi-based gaming firm claims to have more than 2 million bank accounts of users linked to its platform and is already clocking 200 million microtransactions per month. PRS HRS

WinZO partners Tencent Games India for PUBG mobile tournaments

Indian multi-player gaming and entertainment platform <keyword id="7830073" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="winzo">WinZO</keyword> on Friday said it has raised $65 million in a Series C funding round, led by California-based Griffin Gaming Partners. The fresh funding takes the total capital raised by the company to $90 million. According to the company, Griffin is making its first-ever investment in <keyword id="3658" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> in WinZO. "With this raise, we plan to grow much faster and become an even more lovable product for our consumers. WinZO is poised and strategically well positioned to be one of the first 'Made in India' products that will rule the world in coming years," said Paavan Nanda, <keyword id="170488" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="co-founder">co-founder</keyword>, WinZO. WinZO said it seeks to position itself at the forefront of Indian gaming culture with an expansive influencer network catering to more than 50 million registered users. The platform is currently available in 12 languages. The company said it has grown its revenues tenfold over the last 12 months, and has partnered with over 100 leading game developers to realise the full potential of the Indian mobile gaming market. "We saw in WinZO's games incredible retention and monetisation metrics we believe set the company up for continued explosive growth and are proud to support the team on the journey," said Nick Tuosto, Co-Founder, of Griffin Gaming Partners and Managing Director and Head of Gaming at LionTree. Phil Sanderson, Co-Founder of Griffin Gaming Partners, will join WinZO's board of directors. This financing follows only eight months, after the company raised its Series B, from returning investors Makers Fund, Courtside Ventures, and Steve Pagliuca, Co-Chairman of <keyword id="6581358" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bain-Capital">Bain Capital</keyword>. Launched in early 2018, the company partners with third-party developers to host games on their <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Android">Android</keyword> app, where users can enjoy personalised multiplayer gameplay experiences. The platform is available in 12 languages such as English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and Bhojpuri, with over 50 million registered users. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/google-is-working-on-a-new-app-to-let-you-store-your-medical-records/articleshow/84059948.cms">Google is working on a new app to let you store your medical records</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/battlegrounds-mobile-india-official-download-link-how-to-update-bgmi-rewards/articleshow/84058116.cms">Battlegrounds Mobile India launched officially – here’s how to update, claim rewards and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/failure-to-pivot-covid-19-blues-force-amazon-backed-shuttl-to-look-for-a-buyer/articleshow/84056797.cms">Failure to pivot, COVID-19 blues force Amazon-backed Shuttl to look for a buyer</a>

Indian gaming platform WinZO raises $65 million led by Griffin Gaming Partners

<ul><li>Indian gaming market to expect revenue of $1Billion by 2021.</li><li>Industry leaders seeking TDS clarifications &amp; GST incentives to foster market growth.</li><li>Lack of awareness around gaming as a career posing challenges to industry maturity.</li></ul>With <a href="https://in.pcmag.com/gaming/129946/esports-has-huge-potential-in-india-heres-what-the-experts-think">eSports</a> and <a href="https://in.pcmag.com/gaming/130231/the-success-of-esl-one-is-important-for-esports-in-the-country">gaming</a> expected to accrue revenues of $1 Billion in India by 2021, the Indian gaming industry is looking for considerations in the upcoming budget to help the sector grow rapidly. Prithvi Singh, the founder and chief technical officer at <keyword id="7337525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gameskraft">Gameskraft</keyword> told Business Insider India, “When it comes to the online gaming sector, I believe the government should bring in some clarity around TDS deductions for real money games.” Speaking to <a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/sports-trends/budget-2019-a-look-at-what-the-gaming-industry-expects-4162021.html">Moneycontrol</a>, Kashyap Reddy, CEO and Co-founder of <keyword id="2563912" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hitwicket">Hitwicket</keyword> believes that it’s time that the Indian Government takes a serious look at the Industry and provide support. Citing an example of Germany, which has established a national-level €50 million “Annual Gaming Fund”, Reddy says, “Lowering the goods and services tax (GST) on gaming revenue and cloud services to 5 per cent would also be a good initiative." Reddy believes there is immense scope for creating more jobs in this sector as gaming caters to a global market. Unlike traditional entertainment, mobile gaming is one of the cheapest forms of entertainment available to the public since most mobile games follow a “free to play” model. While the gaming industry has been recognised internationally, the lack of awareness around <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pubg-gamer-in-india-salary-sponsorships-and-opporutnities/articleshow/69952705.cms">gaming as a potential career</a> is a problem unique to developing markets like India. Traditional Indian households still look at gaming as a hobby, not a career that can translate to lucrative careers assured by medicine and engineering. The social-stigma surrounding gaming, with the activity often picked as a soft-target for violence, addition and poor academic performance is another concern around the development of the industry. Paavan Nanda, Co-founder of <keyword id="7830073" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="winzo">WinZO</keyword> games told Moneycontrol, “Favorable regulations” that help online gaming verticals can entice domestic and foreign institutional investors. He also believes that the Indian market is Nascent but strong and is “poised for strong growth surpassing China, owing to the growing youth population." Another area that can be improved on is digital payments and more initiatives from the government here would help push sales since most of these options are still locked away for a majority of Indians. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pubg-gamer-in-india-salary-sponsorships-and-opporutnities/articleshow/69952705.cms">Here’s what it’s like to be a gamer in India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/google-games-india-new-feature-country-targeted-store-listings/articleshow/68473300.cms">Google arms mobile games with a new feature to target emerging markets like India</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/pubg-mobile-update-features-new-game-management-system-to-warn-users/articleshow/69351839.cms">Warning: You’ve been playing PUBG for far too long</a>

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A new $1.5 million fund is looking for good game developers in India

Prabhjote Gill

New-born startups want parenting from investors for right grooming

BI India Bureau

WinZO acquires Gurugram-based game development studio Upskillz

IANS

WinZO partners Tencent Games India for PUBG mobile tournaments

PTI

Indian gaming platform WinZO raises $65 million led by Griffin Gaming Partners

IANS

Budget 2019: Indian gaming industry wishlist

BI India Tech Bureau

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