Gaming giant Nazara Technologies, in partnership with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s WTFund, has committed an investment of INR 2 Crore to two promising gaming startups, Norian Games and Xigma Games.
The investment aims to scale up the businesses of both companies, with a focus on fostering innovation and growth in India’s rapidly expanding gaming sector.
Nikhil Kamath expressed his excitement about the investment, saying, “Growing up, we were occupied by simpler things – a game of cricket or even just being outside. That was a large part of my childhood. For the younger generation, gaming has taken that place, creating new avenues for creativity and interaction. This fund is a small step in supporting companies that have made a mark with their innovative games, and I look forward to seeing them push boundaries even further.”
Nazara Technologies’ CEO, Nitish Mittersain, also shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “At Nazara, We are committed to nurturing the next generation of gaming talent in India and it great to join hands with visionary tech pioneers such as Nikhil Kamath to act on the vision of our Prime Minister in building strong gaming talent in India that can build games for the world.”
Spotlight on the Startups
Norian Games, founded in 2019 by Jake Koshy, has developed popular online games for PC and consoles, including Aldian of Ancients. The company aims to expand its portfolio and reach a global audience with the backing of this investment.
Xigma Games, established in 2015 by Himanshu Manwani and Govardhan Gosavi, is known for creating engaging games such as The Bonfire, Rubek, and Super Nano Jumpers. With this funding, Xigma Games plans to continue enhancing its game development capabilities and expand its offerings.
WTFund’s Commitment to Young Entrepreneurs
Earlier this year, Nikhil Kamath launched the WTFund, a grant initiative aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs under 25.
With a total corpus of INR 8 Crore, the fund plans to back up to 40 startup founders, offering each a non-dilutive grant of INR 20 Lakh.
Beyond financial support, the WTFund also provides access to mentorship, networking opportunities, media training, and operational resources, including Go-To-Market (GTM) support and talent acquisition channels.
Nikhil Kamath’s vision with the WTFund is to create a vibrant ecosystem for young entrepreneurs, with opportunities for mentorship, beta testing, and moonlighting experiences to help these startups scale efficiently and effectively.
Nazara’s Growing Presence in Gaming and Ecommerce
In a further strategic move, Nazara Technologies has also partnered with the ONDC Network to launch gCommerce, an innovative platform that integrates ecommerce within games.
This in-game monetization platform offers game developers new avenues to generate revenue while enhancing the overall gaming experience.
