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Blockade Labs
Techstars '19Indianapolis, US · Founded 2018 · 17 employees on LinkedIn · 17 known investors
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Blockade Labs develops AI-powered content generation tools for user-generated content platforms, enabling creators to rapidly generate professional-quality 3D environments and backgrounds. The solution targets gaming, metaverse, and social platforms seeking to reduce creator friction and increase content velocity.
Also known as Blockade Games, Inc. · Skybox AI
Founders & leadership
Blockade Labs was founded in 2018 by Marguerite deCourcelle.
Investors · 17
How we know: Fulgur Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Narcissus Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Red Beard Ventures's portfolio page · a partner's Signal profile · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the Techstars portfolio · open dataset · Top 3000 Accelerator Startups (no YC) 2026-08 · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: funding news · press coverage · research · blockchaingamer.biz · Not right? Tell us
Also in the syndicate · 5
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements▶$5MraisedDec 2021 · 47 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Marguerite deCourcelleExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $5M
- Amount sold
- $5M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $8K
- First sale
- Jun 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2018
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$682.4KraisedOct 2018 · 6 investors · OtherRule 506(c)
- Marguerite deCourcelleExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $2.5M
- Amount sold
- $682.4K
- Proceeds to insiders
- $60K
- First sale
- Sep 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2018
- Federal exemptions
- 06c
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Valuation · disclosed
Disclosed eventsSource: SEC prospectus filings, and round valuations the company or its investors disclosed — follow each entry's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Blockade Games, Inc. is a game development company based in Indianapolis, Indiana, led by Marguerite deCourcelle (known online as @coin_artist), with Ben Heidorn as co-founder and CTO. The studio built a portfolio of blockchain-linked interactive entertainment titles, including Plasma Bears, the Pineapple Arcade, and its flagship action title Neon District, designing free-to-play experiences in which players retain the value of their in-game crypto-assets while the studio worked to broaden appeal to mainstream gamers.
The company's current commercial product is Skybox AI, a generative tool that produces 360° equirectangular panoramas, skyboxes and HDRI environments. The product markets generation times as fast as 15 seconds, resolutions up to 16k, and 32-bit HDRI exports, along with style presets, remixing, negative prompts and full commercial licensing with IP ownership for the user. Distribution is through a web application with free trial access, paid plans, an API and SDK, a native Unity plugin, MCP support and direct export paths to Blender and Unreal. A next-generation model is being promoted on a request-access basis.
Founding story
The company was led by Marguerite deCourcelle, who also serves as an executive officer and director; Ben Heidorn is identified as co-founder and CTO.
Business model
Blockade Games sells access to its Skybox AI generation platform through self-serve subscription plans alongside a direct enterprise sales motion, with API and SDK access for customers embedding generation into their own pipelines. Earlier, the company operated as a game developer whose titles incorporated crypto-assets and NFTs, with in-game tokenomics forming part of the monetization design.
Published pricing plans for the Skybox AI product plus contracted enterprise deals via a "Contact Sales" path; API and SDK access are offered for pipeline integration. Historically, revenue was tied to blockchain games in which players acquired and owned in-game NFT assets.
Traction
At the time of its 2021 financing, the studio reported roughly 100,000 users, more than 11,000 new users in the prior month, over 177,000 unique asset owners, and 2.1 million Season 1 NFTs minted. Skybox AI is presented as production-ready at indie and enterprise scale and used by industry leaders.
Latest developments
The company promotes Skybox AI as its primary product, with free trial access, published plans, enterprise sales, and a next-generation 360° generation model offered on a request-access basis. Integrations cited include a Unity plugin, MCP support and exports to Blender and Unreal.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positions Skybox AI as a leading 360° equirectangular panorama AI image generator serving both indie and enterprise scales. In its earlier phase, the studio was described as producing some of the longest-running experiences blending blockchain with interactive entertainment, and its investors characterized the team as experienced veterans of the blockchain games industry.
Stated points of difference include generation speed (as fast as 15 seconds), high output resolution, 32-bit HDRI export, seam quality intended for direct deployment without rework, brand-consistency controls, and full commercial licensing with clear IP ownership for customers.
Technology
A generative AI model for 360° equirectangular panorama images, outputting skyboxes at up to 16k resolution and 32-bit HDRI files for lighting. Controls include style presets, remix and negative prompts for consistency. Integration surfaces include a documented API, an SDK, a native Unity plugin, MCP support and direct exports to Blender and Unreal; an additional, more advanced model is in a request-access phase. Earlier technology work centered on blockchain and NFT systems for games, including in-game tokenomics.
Go-to-market
Product-led entry through a free trial of Skybox AI and published plans, paired with a direct enterprise sales channel and developer-facing distribution via API, SDK and engine plugins. The site cites use by industry leaders across spatial computing, virtual production, retail, UGC platforms, education and indie game development. The company also maintains a YouTube channel.
Indie game developers and enterprise platforms; spatial computing and XR teams building for Quest, Vision Pro and AndroidXR; virtual production teams working with LED volumes, matte painting and previsualization; retail and eCommerce teams building virtual showrooms and AR shopping; user-generated-content platforms such as Roblox and Fortnite Creative; and education and training buyers including e-learning, corporate training and museums.
Geography
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, with a web-delivered product available to customers globally.
History
Blockade Games developed blockchain-integrated games including Plasma Bears and the Pineapple Arcade before focusing on Neon District as its flagship title, with a stated shift toward attracting mainstream gamers. In November 2021 it raised $5 million led by Animoca Brands at a $23 million valuation to fund hiring, game development, partnerships, marketing and in-game tokenomics. The company subsequently centered its public-facing business on Skybox AI, a 360° environment and HDRI generation product.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsThe studio raised $5 million at a stated $23 million valuation, led by Animoca Brands with follow-on participation from Drew Austin of Redbeard Ventures, Flamingo DAO, Galaxy Interactive, Roham Gharegozlou of Dapper Labs, Keith Grossman of TIME and Meltem Demirors of CoinShares. Proceeds were earmarked for hiring, further game development, partnerships, marketing and in-game tokenomics work.
$5M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structure▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Blockade Gamesblockade.games · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Blockade Labs do?
- Game studio turned AI tooling company behind Skybox AI, which generates 360° equirectangular environments and HDRI assets.
- Who founded Blockade Labs?
- Blockade Labs was founded by Marguerite deCourcelle in 2018.
- Who are Blockade Labs's investors?
- Blockade Labs's investors include Chain Reaction, DAO Jones, Fulgur Ventures, Narcissus Ventures, Red Beard Ventures, Spatial Capital, Techstars, Yunt Capital and 4 more.
- Where is Blockade Labs headquartered?
- Blockade Labs is headquartered in Indianapolis, US.