Play Ventures
Venture capitalActively deployingSingapore · Pre-Seed–Series B · 16 people tracked
Also known as Play Ventures Investments VCC Play · PLAY VENTURES PTE LTD
Investment thesis
Play Ventures invests early in the gaming ecosystem, backing promising game studios, consumer/playable apps, and B2B infrastructure and services companies globally. It views gaming as the largest form of entertainment and a template for user acquisition, economy design, and monetization now spreading to consumer apps. The firm also targets adtech, payments infrastructure and AI powering games and playable apps. Founded by successful gaming entrepreneurs, it identifies winning teams and invests even before products exist, providing tailored support across recruitment, design, and fundraising through its network, and co-investing with leading VCs to help build the next gaming unicorns.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 16 people
from the firm's website & public directories
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What they invest in
from 20 of 112 portfolio companiesGaming ×12AI & Machine Learning ×5Crypto & Web3 ×5Media & Entertainment ×4Consumer ×3Marketing Tech ×3SaaS ×3AdTech ×2
HQs:United States×11Estonia×1Finland×1Romania×1Türkiye×1
Investments · 112 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAn educational content platform that publishes curated Bible verses and spiritual guidance, with a complementary mobile app that provides biblical teachings and daily devotional content.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechMedia & EntertainmentMental HealthSocialWellness & Fitness
Original Games develops casual mobile games designed for relaxation and player engagement with universal appeal.
GamingTallinn, EE
New York, US
Harri Manninen(Director)Erno Tauriainen(Executive Officer, Director)Lon Otremba(Executive Officer, Promoter)
Board seatHarri Manninen· per SEC Form D · $4M raise · filed Mar 2024
Wilmington, US
Ahmet Emir Kocaaga(Executive Officer)Burak Taban(Executive Officer, Director)Ilhan Anil Simsek(Executive Officer, Director)Batuhan Sakarcan(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJohn Salter(Director)
Board seatHarri Manninen· per SEC Form D · $25M raise · filed Sep 2025
Gurley, US
Sid Chambless(Director)Harri Manninen(Director)Ben Robinson(Executive Officer)Donovan Duncan(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatHarri ManninenHarri Manninen· per SEC Form D · $3.6M raise · filed Jan 2023
Gamefam develops and operates games on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite for Generation Z and Alpha audiences.
ConsumerGamingMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentLos Angeles, US
Josh Chapman(Director)Ricardo Briceno(Executive Officer)Harri Manninen(Director)Joseph Ferencz(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
Board seatHarri Manninen· per SEC Form D
Los Angeles, US
Kenrick Drijkoningen(Director)Seong Wook Kim(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatKenrick Drijkoningen· per SEC Form D · $10.9M raise · filed Jun 2024
San Francisco, US
Paul Heydon(Director)Harri Manninen(Director)Jiri Kupiainen(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatHenric Suuronen· per SEC Form D · $1.3M raise · filed Sep 2020
Ancient8 is a gaming-focused Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain designed for Web3 gaming, hosting fully on-chain games, games on X and Telegram, IP-infused games, and AI-powered games.
Crypto & Web3Gaming
Azra is a video game developer that creates role-playing games for mobile platforms, leveraging proprietary AI technology to accelerate development and bring titles to market faster.
GamingSacramento, US
Mark Otero(CEO)inDavid Scurfield(Executive Officer, Director)Sonny Mayugba(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardFranklin Bi(Director)
Bigger Games develops mobile games, creating engaging gameplay experiences for players.
GamingIstanbul, TR
Black Block is a game studio building The Sprawl, an upcoming web3 online world, drawing on the team's experience across mobile free-to-play and AAA console games.
Crypto & Web3Gaming
Robin Squire(Chief Executive Officer)Paul Kurowski(Chief Product Officer)Stanislav Semakin(Chief Technology Officer)Matthew Wilson(Advisor & Chairman)
Ember Sword is a social sandbox open-world MMORPG set in a player-driven universe (Thanabus) with on-chain elements, giving players true ownership of digital gaming assets and player-owned, tradable land plots.
Crypto & Web3Gaming
Indian mobile gaming platform valued at $945M in Series D
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Play Ventures invest at?
- Play Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B stages.
- What sectors does Play Ventures focus on?
- Play Ventures focuses on AdTech, AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Gaming, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Play Ventures located?
- Play Ventures is headquartered in Singapore, SG.
- Does Play Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Play Ventures leads investment rounds.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamWhy 'Play' Is Huge: Gaming Investment with Phylicia Koh (Play Ventures)
Female VC Lab · Phylicia Koh
Gamification of Consumer Apps - Phylicia Koh, GP, Play Ventures
VC10X with Prashant Choubey · Phylicia Koh
Phylicia Koh, General Partner Play Ventures: Gaming & Consumer App VC
Grace Gong · Phylicia Koh
Founder of Play Ventures Henric Suuronen Talks Investment in Eternal Dragons
Eternal Dragons · Henric Suuronen
Thor Gunnarsson (Mainframe) & Anton Backman (Play Ventures): Democratizing Gaming | Slush 2021
Slush · Anton Backman
Phylicia Koh / Play Ventures: 5 Steps to Pitching Success: Demystifying Fundraising
W Love Games Conference · Phylicia Koh
Co-investors · 3
Picus Capital is an early-stage technology investment firm that partners closely with founders on strategic and operational challenges to help build global companies.
General Catalyst is a venture capital and investment firm that backs founders across industries, with a strong focus on AI-driven transformation, fintech, healthcare, and other sectors.
Patron is an early-stage venture firm that backs founders building consumer and application startups that have already launched, focusing on intuitive, automated, and taste-driven products.
Firms observed investing alongside Play Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Play Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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