Qila Games, a hybrid-casual gaming startup, has secured $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Chimera VC, reflecting growing investor interest in India’s evolving mobile gaming space. Founded in 2024 by Dhananjai Hari (Co-Founder & CEO) and Neeraj Mishra (Co-Founder & CPO), the company aims to develop socially engaging games tailored for Indian players by blending casual and midcore gaming elements.
Key Details:
- Qila Games focuses on the hybrid-casual genre to create accessible yet deep gaming experiences.
- The pre-seed round was led by Chimera VC.
- Other participating investors included Visceral Capital, Atrium Angels, Ventana Ventures, 91 Ventures, Untitled Ventures, and Angel investors include Manish Agarwal (Founder, Kratos Studios) and Piyush Shah (Co-Founder, InMobi).
- Funds will be used to build original IPs, expand the game portfolio, and invest in technology and design.
- The company believes hybrid-casual games will drive the next wave of mobile gaming adoption in India and other emerging markets.
Founder’s Background:
Nakul Khanna brings over a decade of experience in the gaming industry, having led key initiatives at Zynga and PlaySimple Games, where he focused on product development and strategy.
Ishan Saksena has held top executive roles in the entertainment sector, including Group CEO of Balaji Telefilms and MD at Hungama Digital Media, with strong expertise in content curation and business growth.
Funding Details:
- Stage: Pre-seed
- Amount: $1 million
- Lead Investor: Lumikai
- Other Investors: FAAD Network, Gameskraft, All In Capital
- Angel Investors: Manish Agarwal, Piyush Shah