🦊/Investors

Play Ventures

Venture capitalActively deployingoperating company · company profile

Singapore · Pre-Seed–Series B · 16 people tracked

Also known as Play Ventures Investments VCC Play · PLAY VENTURES PTE LTD

Find your way into Play Ventures

3,167 people in our graph share verified history with the Play Ventures team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Ken Chenaultunlockedknows Juha Lindell · together at IBM / Nokia (overlapped)
knows the team · via King
×2knows the team · via IBM / Nokia
knows the team · via LuneX Ventures
×5knows the team · via Golden Gate Ventures
knows the team · via Singapore Management University
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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 28, 2026.

Stage
Pre-Seed–Series B
HQ
Singapore, SG
Leads rounds
Leads
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2018
Last 12 months
2 investments
AUM
$175M
VC funds
9
Tracked investments
122
Unicorns
1
Acquisitions
5

Team · 16 people

from the firm's website & curated & public directories
Joakim Achrén

Mentioned in connection with the Social First investment as a co-investor/partner.

6 people who came through Play Ventures went on to found or lead other companies.

What they invest in

from 79 of 122 portfolio companies

Gaming ×54Consumer ×25AI & Machine Learning ×20Crypto & Web3 ×15Media & Entertainment ×12SaaS ×9AdTech ×8Creator Economy ×7

HQs:United States×21Finland×6Germany×2United Kingdom×2India×2Romania×2

Who they back

founder profiles across 36 portfolio companies
58%
solo founders
21 of 36 mapped founding teams
57%
repeat founders
of 42 founders with career history
~3.5 yrs
old at investment
median across 8 dated deals

Founding team size:solo founder×212 founders×123 founders×24+ founders×1

Where their founders studiedfrom 33 founders with education data

Barnard College ×2Columbia University ×2Harvard University ×2IE Business School ×2UC Santa Barbara ×2Università degli studi Roma TRE ×2

What their founders studiedfrom 30 founders with field-of-study data

Business & Management ×10Computer Science ×8Economics ×7Engineering ×6Humanities ×2Mathematics & Statistics ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 42 founders with career history

King ×3Enpal ×2McKinsey & Company ×2Mob Science ×2Osgenic ×2Pixonic ×2Play Ventures ×2Ubisoft Singapore ×2

Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program

Y Combinator ×2

1 founders hold a PhD · 4 hold an MBA (of 32 with degree data)

Investments · 122 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2026 · 22025 · 52024 · 32023 · 22022 · 62021 · 32020 · 324 dated

Bible Chatthebiblechat.comin𝕏✓ verified

An 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

Laurentiu Balasa(Co-founder)inMarius Iordache(Co-founder)in

Co-investorsTrue VenturesSilicon Gardens

Bible Chatthebiblechat.appin𝕏Feb 2025✓ verified

Bible Chat is a mobile app that provides curated Bible verses and biblical content to help users deepen their faith and understanding of Scripture.

AI & Machine LearningConsumerHealthtechMedia & EntertainmentSocialWellness & Fitness

Laurentiu BalasainMarius Iordachein

Co-investorsUnderline VenturesEarly Game VenturesSilicon GardensTrue Ventures

Original Gamesoriginalgames.ioinOct 2021✓ verified

Original Games develops casual mobile games designed for relaxation and player engagement with universal appeal.

GamingTallinn, EE

Co-investorsAndreessen Horowitz

Scenarioscenario.comin𝕏✓ verified

Scenario is a creative AI platform that lets teams train custom models on their own art and brand style, then access 600+ image, video, 3D, and audio models to generate on-brand assets.

AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomySaaSSan Francisco, US

Hervé Nivon(Founder)in

Co-investorsDecasonicAndreessen HorowitzAnorak VenturesFoundersGraph VenturesThe Venture Reality Fund

Scenario3Dscenario3d.comin𝕏✓ verified

Scenario is an AI content generation platform for creating game and creative assets — including 3D models, images, video, audio, textures, and skyboxes — with support for hundreds of models and custom-trained models on a user's own art style.

AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyGamingSaaS

Co-investorsDiaspora Ventures

Socialfirstgamessocialfirstgames.comin𝕏✓ verified

Social First is a Finnish game studio developing a cross-platform social MMO intended to function as a social platform for players.

ConsumerGamingSocialHelsinki, FI

Co-investorsCrowberry Capital

GameFamgamefam.comin𝕏Dec 2023

Gamefam develops and operates games on platforms like Roblox and Fortnite for Generation Z and Alpha audiences.

ConsumerGamingMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentLos Angeles, US

Joe Ferencz(Founder)inRicardo Briceno(Executive Officer)in

BoardJosh Chapman(Director)in

Board seatHarri Manninen· per SEC Form D

Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersKonvoy VenturesMakers FundRaptor Group

Shark PunchinAug 2020SEC filingmedium confidence

Finnish-American game studio behind Playfield.io, a social discovery and community platform connecting players with games and developers.

San Francisco, US

Jiri Kupiainen(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardPaul Heydon(Director)Harri Manninen(Director)in

Board seatHenric Suuronen· per SEC Form D · $1.3M raise · filed Sep 2020

Co-investorsDN CapitalGlobal Founders CapitalLondon Venture Partners

99Math99math.com

Estonian edtech company running a gamified, multiplayer math-fluency practice platform used by teachers and students.

Co-investorsChange VenturesFlyer One VenturesGeek Ventures

Ahead Appahead-app.comin

Ahead is a mobile app offering daily lessons, activities, and modules to help users manage their thoughts and emotions, overcome procrastination, and support personal growth and self-understanding.

ConsumerMental HealthWellness & Fitness

Kai Koch(Founder)in

Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzGeneral CatalystInspired Capital

Alineaalinea-invest.comin𝕏Series A · Apr 2025 · $10.4M

Alinea is a digital wealth management platform that provides AI-assisted portfolio management and automated investing for individual investors.

AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaSNew York City, US

Eve Halimi(Founder)inAnam Lakhani(Founder)in

BoardPhylicia Koh(Director)in

Co-investorsDiaspora VenturesEvolution Venturesf7 VenturesFoundersX VenturesGFR FundKima Ventures+9 more

Allstargamesallstargames.io𝕏

The page is a privacy policy for allstargames.io, operated by Deftouch Interactive Art Pvt.

GamingMumbai, IN

Co-investorsLumikai

Ancient8ancient8.gg

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

Howard Xu(Founder)Trung Nguyen(Founder & CEO)

Co-investorsAnimoca BrandsCoinbase VenturesIOSG VenturesK300 VenturesMakers FundMetastable+9 more

Appchargeappcharge.cominAug 2025

Appcharge offers a checkout product built for direct-to-consumer payments in gaming, supporting iOS payment links, side-loaded apps, and browser games.

FintechGamingSaaS

Maor Sason(Founder)inRoei Barassi(Founder)in

Co-investorsBitkraft Esports VenturesGlilot Capital PartnersIVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Moneta VCBITKRAFT VenturesCreandum+3 more

Artestudioartestudio.io

Arte Studio operates Match Cash, a mobile skill-based match-3 puzzle game where players compete in live multiplayer tournaments for cash prizes.

ConsumerGaming

Aryaarya.fyi

Arya operates a subscription app and concierge service focused on intimacy and relationships for couples, offering curated experiences ("Scenes"), tested products, erotic audio stories, and personalized roleplays.

ConsumerDirect to ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentWellness & Fitness

Offer Yehudai(Founder)in

Co-investorsat.inc/

Azra Gamesazragames.comin𝕏

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)inSonny Mayugba(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardFranklin Bi(Director)in

Co-investorsa16z cryptoAndreessen HorowitzBollinger Investment GroupBreederDAOCoinbase VenturesNFX+2 more

Battleboundbattlebound.ioFeb 2022 · $4.8M

Los Angeles, US

Adam Hensel(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in

Co-investorsa16z cryptoAndreessen HorowitzDapper Labs

Benjaminonebenjaminone.com

Benjamin is a consumer rewards app that lets users earn cash by doing everyday activities such as playing games, shopping, scanning receipts, completing surveys, and watching ads.

AdTechConsumerGamingNew York City, US

Nouh Alkhafif(Founder)

Co-investorsAtinum Investment Co. Ltd.Expert DOJO

Beyondlabsbeyondlabs.net𝕏

Beyond Labs is a research lab building AI tools and workflows for creating, operating, and monetizing interactive game content, including generating game-ready sprites, animations, playable game logic, and live-ops economy tuning from user intent.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechGaming

Bigger Gamesbiggergames.comin

Bigger Games develops mobile games, creating engaging gameplay experiences for players.

GamingIstanbul, TR

Co-investorsIndex VenturesGoodwater Capital

Blackblockblackblock.ioin𝕏

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)

Blackpoolblackpool.finance𝕏

BlackPool is a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) that scouts and invests in early-stage blockchain gaming projects, matching them with its community of builders, investors, and gamers.

Crypto & Web3Gaming

Co-investorsDeepTech Ventures

Brightstarbrightstar.studioin𝕏

Ember Sword is a social sandbox open-world MMORPG set in a player-driven universe, featuring fast-paced PvP and PvE combat, a dynamic class system, and player-owned land and digital assets.

Crypto & Web3Gaming

Mark Laursen(Founder)in

Co-investorsLindsay Goldberg

burntgetburnt.aiin𝕏Jan 2022 · $8M

Burnt builds AI agents for food distribution and supply chain operations, automating manual workflows and inventory management tasks that have historically relied on legacy tools and spreadsheets.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainSan Francisco, US

Joseph Jacob(Founder)inRhea Karimpanal(Founder)inChandru Shanumugasundaram(Founder)inJJ(Co-Founder & CEO)

Co-investorsPenny Jar Capital VentureScribble VenturesY CombinatorAlameda ResearchAlliance DAO (ex DeFi Alliance)Animoca Brands+6 more

Burnt Finance Synthetic Assetburnt.com

Burnt provides cryptographically verified identity and attribute verification that lets users prove specific claims (such as income above a threshold or a credit score over 700) by logging into accounts they already have, without sharing raw documents or PII.

CybersecurityDeveloper ToolsFintech

Anthony Anzalone(Founder)in

Co-investorsArrington CapitalDraper DragonElliptiFigmentInnovating CapitalPentos Ventures+3 more

Carterlabscarterlabs.ai

Carter Labs operates Carter Chat, a mobile and web app for roleplay conversations with user-created AI characters.

Championgameschampiongames.comin

Champion Games is a game developer building virtual sports worlds, including a soccer metaverse where players can manage their own club and a fantasy football game to play with friends.

Crypto & Web3GamingSports Tech

Marc Cercós(Co-founder & CEO)inAlex F.(Co-founder)inPatxi Barrios(COO)in

Cheercheer.gsin

Barcelona-based mobile gaming studio Cheer Games develops casual puzzle titles aimed at building long-lived game franchises.

Circlecircle.gsin

Sort Express is a 3D puzzle game where players organize, match, and clear real-world objects across progressively harder levels.

Gaming

Co-investorsFin Capitala16z cryptoBlackRockCastlelake Pte. Ltd.

Cyphergamescyphergames.coin

Cypher Games is a mobile game studio that develops match-3 games, including its title Match Squad, which features cinematic worlds, competitive multiplayer, and city-building mechanics.

Gaming

Dataseatdataseat.com𝕏Jan 2020Acquired

Dataseat provides a demand-side platform for mobile app developers and agencies to run programmatic advertising campaigns in a privacy-first environment, offering control and transparency over campaign performance and spend.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaS

Paul Hayton(Founder)in

Co-investorsBackedSAATCHiNVEST

Datawispdatawisp.ioin𝕏Aug 2022 · $3.6M

Datawisp is a no-code data exploration and analytics platform with an AI assistant, used in web3 and gaming.

GamingHempstead, US

Co-investorsTechstarsCoinFundDWeb3 CapitalMirana Ventures

Defi Alliancedefialliance.orgin

Crypto startup accelerator, formerly Chicago DeFi Alliance, that reorganized as AllianceDAO to accelerate Web3 startups.

Co-investorsIOSG VenturesMoon Holdings

Eloeloeloelo.inApr 2025 · $13.5M

Bengaluru-based live social entertainment platform combining video and audio streaming with gaming and creator micropayments.

Bengaluru, IN

Akshay Dubey(Founder)Saurabh Pandey(Founder)in

Co-investorsBetter CapitalCourtside VenturesFundamental VCKalaari CapitalLumikaiWaterBridge Ventures+3 more

Ember Swordembersword.com𝕏Apr 2020 · $700KDefunct

Ember Sword is a social sandbox open-world MMORPG set in the fictional world of Thanabus, featuring class-based PvP/PvE combat and player-owned land and digital assets.

Crypto & Web3Gaming

Co-investorsBitDAOMantle NetworkMoon HoldingsMoonfire VenturesGalaxy Interactive

Eterlasteterlast.comin

Eterlast is a London-based Web3 company building branded blockchain games and NFT experiences for sports and media brands.

London, GB

Joan Roure(Founder)inJoan Roure Parera(Founder)

Co-investorsSupernode GlobalActive PartnersFounders FactoryStake Capital

Facemojifacemoji.coAcquired

Facemoji built a plug-and-play SDK letting game and app developers add 3D avatars; it rebranded as Alter and was acquired by Google.

Co-investorsColopl NextRoosh VenturesTwitter

Ferasetferaset.co

Istanbul-based developer of AI-powered consumer mobile apps across design, video, music, photo and utility categories.

Firstlightfirstlight.games

London, GB

Anil Das Gupta(Founder)

Fliffgetfliff.comin𝕏Aug 2022

Fliff offers a free-to-play sports prediction game that turns sports predictions into a social, competitive entertainment experience for its users.

ConsumerGamingSports TechKing Of Prussia, US

Tim Tepass(Director)Mario Dodev(Executive Officer, Director)Garrett Gomes(Director)Feda Mecan(Director)Matthew Ricci(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsAcies InvestmentsCourtside Ventures

Funcraftfuncraft.com

FunCraft is a game studio that makes daily word puzzle games for mobile players, including its Wordgrams title, which it aims to grow into a franchise.

ConsumerGamingSan Francisco, US

Michael Martinez(Founder)in

Co-investorsFlori VenturesGood Friends

Geosurgegeosurge.aiin

geoSurge develops infrastructure and tools for generative AI visibility, helping brands measure and manage how AI systems represent and recall their content.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareMarketing Tech

Francisco Vigo(CEO & Co-Founder)inJons Mostovojs(CTO & Co-Founder)in

Co-investorsAlbionVCBoost Capital PartnersOctopus Ventures

Getvuelogetvuelo.com

London-based, FCA-regulated travel fintech offering an AI-native booking app with interest-free instalment financing.

Gmstrygmstry.comin

Game Story is a Tel Aviv-based mobile games developer making skill-based bingo and solitaire titles with real-cash competitions.

Gvrngvrn.aiin𝕏

GVRN is a platform that handles legal and administrative tasks for startups, including company incorporation, fundraising coordination, and investor document preparation.

Crypto & Web3LegalTechSaaS

Helixgamehelixgame.com𝕏

Helix is a game development platform that provides scripting tools using Lua-style code to spawn and control in-game objects such as props.

Developer ToolsGaming

Co-investorsAppWorks Ventures

INCRMNTALincrmntal.comin𝕏

INCRMNTAL is a marketing measurement platform that evaluates the incremental impact of advertising campaigns across multiple channels and platforms including mobile, web, TV, and influencer marketing.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing Tech

Co-investorstoDay Ventures

Indieindie.io𝕏

indie.io is a publishing and marketing platform for PC indie game developers, offering development support, QA, marketing, promotion, and distribution across storefronts like Steam, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.

Creator EconomyGamingMedia & Entertainment

iubendaiubenda.comin𝕏Acquired

iubenda provides a digital compliance platform that helps businesses create and manage privacy policies, cookie banners, terms and conditions, and accessibility documentation to meet global privacy regulations.

LegalTechSaaS

Andrea Giannangelo(Founder)inRaffaele Negroin

Co-investors2100 Ventures4Di CapitalBrighteye VenturesMetrika SGR S.p.A.P101 VenturesPrimo Ventures+8 more

Jarvigamesjarvigames.comin

Jarvi Games is developing Flex City, a massively multiplayer online open-world game centered on social interaction, where players explore, communicate, and take on roles such as laborer, businessman, taxi driver, or racer.

Gaming

Co-investorsThe Games Fund

Justaboutjustabout.com

Just About is a platform for online creators, offering a community (including a Discord) where creators can share ideas, ask questions, and get advice.

ConsumerCreator EconomySocial

Kekkek.gamesNov 2021 · $3M

Cyprus-based game studio founded by ex-Pixonic executives building a cross-platform multiplayer mecha shooter.

Georgy Egorov(Founder)inOleg Poroshin(Founder)in

Co-investorsThe Games Fund

Kingdommakerkingdommaker.com𝕏

Kingdom Maker is an open-world, real-time multiplayer strategy game where players build kingdoms, assemble customizable armies, conquer land, and engage in social interaction and combat.

Gaming

Loupedeckloupedeck.comin𝕏

Loupedeck makes customizable control consoles with analog dials and touch-sensitive buttons for live streamers and content creators, integrating with apps like OBS, Twitch, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop.

ConsumerCreator EconomyHardwareMedia & Entertainment

Mikko Kesti(Founder & CEO)inFelix Hartwigsen(Co-Founder & Chief Marketing Officer)inPauli Seppinen(Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer)in

Co-investorsRazerzVentures

Mainframe Industriesthemainframe.com

Finnish-Icelandic game developer building Pax Dei, a cloud-native sandbox MMO playable across mobile, PC and console.

Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzSisu Game VenturesMaki.vc

Meticametica.comin𝕏

Metica builds an AI-native ad monetization platform for mobile game developers, using real-time inference and continuous machine learning to optimize bid floors and ad auctions.

AdTechAI & Machine LearningGaming

Justin Stolzenberg(Founder)in

Midnitemidnite.comin

UK-licensed online sportsbook and casino operator running its own in-house betting platform.

Co-investorsAcies InvestmentsMakers Fund

Mighty Bear Gamesmightybeargames.comin

Singapore studio that shipped 45+ games and now builds SecretSauce, an AI platform generating on-brand content.

Simon Davis(Founder & CEO)in

Co-investorsFermionMaC Venture CapitalAncient8Dune VenturesFolius VenturesFramework Ventures+6 more

Mleaguemleague.ggin𝕏

M-League is a gaming platform company with a portfolio of gaming businesses including MPL, GameDuell, and Blast+, focused on the Indian gaming market.

ConsumerGamingMedia & EntertainmentSports TechSingapore, SG

Sai Srinivas(Co-Founder)Shubh Malhotra(Co-Founder)inAnand Sairam(Chief Financial Officer)inNamratha B Swamy(Chief Operating Officer (MPL))Dirk Potratz(Managing Director (GameDuell))

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

Benjamin Capital Partners, Inc.Cypher GamesFreedom! Family USA LtdHypersonic Laboratories, Inc.Decentral Games PrivateEmpiregamesGambitgamesGame BandIndiIndicaMobile Premier LeaguePVXReworksSocial FirstSurgegames

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.

Exits · 5

5 acquisitions · showing 1

Reworksacq. by Playtika

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has Play Ventures made?
Play Ventures has 122 tracked investments, 5 of which have exited, including 7 dated in the last 24 months.
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, Crypto & Web3, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Gaming, Marketing Tech, 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.
Who does Play Ventures co-invest with?
Play Ventures most often shares deals with Makers Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Bitkraft Esports Ventures, among 122 tracked co-investors.
What size deals does Play Ventures back?
Across 6 deals with disclosed amounts, Play Ventures has joined rounds of $1M – $13.5M (median $5.8M).

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Why '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 · 4

General Catalyst

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm operating as a partnership focused on company building and accelerating the growth of the businesses it backs.

Both backed · 1
$30M
PICUS CAPITAL

Picus Capital is a privately financed venture capital investor focused on early-stage technology ventures, having backed over 170 companies with a long-term, entrepreneur-aligned approach.

Both backed · 1
$100K – $300M
Visible Ventures

Visible Ventures is a venture firm investing in companies building better paths to wealth, health, and upward mobility for Gen Z, the generation reshaping the economy.

Both backed · 1
$1M
Patron

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.

$100K – $1M

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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