Published on: 05/23/2025
By Laksh Sharma
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India’s gaming industry is on fire. With more than 500 million gamers, rapid smartphone penetration, affordable data, and a youth-driven population, gaming startups in India are experiencing a historic boom. From casual mobile games to competitive e-sports platforms and story-driven games, Indian developers are pushing boundaries and investors are taking note.
But before the million downloads, fame, or funding rounds, every great gaming venture starts with an idea and that idea needs fuel. That’s where pre-seed investors for the gaming sector come in.
In this blog, we’ll explore the top pre-seed investors for gaming sector that are actively supporting India’s next wave of gaming startups. Whether you’re a budding developer, a studio founder, or just curious about the rise of game entrepreneurship, this guide is your ultimate resource.
The Indian gaming market is projected to surpass $8.6 billion by 2027. A mix of cheap smartphones, Gen Z internet users, and a cultural shift toward digital entertainment has created a goldmine for gaming innovation.
From hyper-casual mobile games to e-sports, blockchain-based games, and streaming platforms like Loco and Rooter, there’s a lot happening. But behind the scenes, building a gaming startup is tough. It takes time, creativity, and money. Unlike other startups, gaming companies often need to invest a lot before they even know if their idea will work.
That’s why early-stage or pre-seed investors are so important. These are the people who back gaming startups when they’re just getting started helping them build, test, and grow. In India, a growing number of gaming startup investors are taking bold bets on mobile games, e-sports, and video game creators.
Without these pre-seed angel investors, many gaming ideas would never make it off the ground. They’re not just funding games, they’re fueling India’s gaming revolution.
The pre-seed stage is like “Level 1” in the startup journey. At this stage, founders usually have a solid game idea or a basic version of the game, a small but passionate team, and maybe some early feedback from users. They’ve taken the first few steps, but there’s still a long way to go.
What they often don’t have is enough money to fully develop and test the game. They may also lack a budget to market the game and get it in front of users. On top of that, many early-stage teams don’t have access to mentors who understand the gaming world and can guide them.
That’s where pre-seed angel investors come in. These investors don’t just give money they also share advice, connect founders to helpful people in the industry, and bring credibility. Their support helps startups move faster and avoid costly mistakes.
In gaming, having the right investor early on can change everything. It can be the difference between launching a hit game or seeing the idea fade away before it ever reaches players.
Here’s a list of the most active pre-seed investors who are backing India’s gaming future:
Eximius Ventures is one of the top pre-seed investors in India. They are well-known for supporting early-stage startups, especially in the gaming space. Along with gaming, they also invest in areas like FinTech, SaaS, HealthTech, and online media.
What makes Eximius stand out is that they focus on the very beginning of a startup’s journey. They invest when a startup might only have an idea or a basic version of their product before it’s launched or getting big user numbers. This early support gives founders the boost they need to build and grow their startup from the ground up.
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Lumikai Fund is a well-known name in India’s gaming investment space. They focus on backing early-stage gaming and interactive media startups, with investments ranging from pre-seed to Series A. To support this, Lumikai has raised two major funds $40 million in Fund I and $50 million in Fund II specifically to help grow the Indian gaming ecosystem.
Their investment focus includes five main areas: gaming content, user-generated content (UGC) platforms and the creator economy, tech tools and infrastructure, and future-facing trends like mixed reality, generative AI, and virtual identities. So far, they’ve invested in several promising companies such as Bombay Play, Loco, and Elo Elo, all of which are helping shape the future of gaming and digital entertainment in India.
Venture Catalysts is one of India’s leading pre-seed investors and has been showing strong interest in the gaming space. They don’t just provide money, they also help startups with advice, guidance, and useful connections through their unique incubator model. Typically, they invest between INR 2 to 15 crores in each startup, using support from a wide network of angel investors and families.
What makes them special is how involved they are in a startup’s early journey. Their support helps gaming startups grow faster and build a strong foundation in a fast-moving market.
Better Capital is one of the top early-stage investors in India’s gaming space. They invest in gaming startups right from the beginning and have supported companies like Probo, Indus, and other gaming-related ventures. They understand what Indian gaming startups need and the challenges they face in their early days.
Better Capital is known for being supportive and easy to work with. They help founders not just with money, but also with building the product, launching it in the market, and raising more funds as the startup grows.
Kalaari Capital is one of the leading investors in India’s startup world and has shown strong support for early-stage gaming startups. They are known for investing at the pre-seed stage, especially in tech-driven companies, and have a history of backing founders with bold and innovative ideas.
They don’t just provide funding, they also guide startups and help them grow. Kalaari believes in the future of gaming and has invested in some of the most promising gaming companies in India.
100X.VC is a well-known venture capital firm in India that focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage startups. While they invest across many sectors, they have also backed several startups in the gaming space. What makes them stand out is their “cookie-cutter model” of investing.
This model follows a clear and simple approach: they provide early funding, mentorship, and connect startups to a strong network of investors. This helps young gaming companies get off the ground quickly and grow with the right support.
Mumbai Angels is a well-known investor group in India that helps startups at the very early stage, including gaming startups. They have invested in companies like GameEon Studios, Inc42, and other gaming businesses. They have a large and varied portfolio with over 200 investments in different industries.
Mumbai Angels doesn’t just give money they also offer advice and connect startups with useful contacts. This makes them a great partner for new gaming companies trying to grow in India.
Ah! Ventures is one of the top pre-seed investors in India’s gaming sector. They focus on investing in early-stage gaming startups and also provide valuable mentorship to help them grow. On top of that, they offer a platform where startups can connect with other investors.
Although Ah! Ventures invests in many different sectors, they have a strong history of supporting gaming startups. They understand the special challenges and opportunities in the gaming industry, making them a great partner for promising gaming companies.
Blume Ventures is one of the top early-stage investors in India’s gaming sector. They have supported gaming startups like Hashcube and LightFury Games, along with others like Mech Mocha and Rolocule. Blume focuses on tech-based startups and helps them grow by providing money and hands-on guidance.
They have a strong history of backing successful companies across different fields, including gaming. Blume looks for founders with big ideas and a clear vision and supports startups closely. Beyond investing, Blume Ventures is active in helping the Indian startup community grow and succeed.
Atrium Angels is a small venture capital fund that is one of the top early investors in India’s gaming sector. They often invest in startups started by graduates from the Indian School of Business (ISB). One of the companies they have backed is Qila Games, which they supported during its pre-seed funding round.
Atrium Angels helps early startups by giving them money and advice to grow. Because they have strong ties with ISB, they can connect with smart founders who bring fresh ideas to the gaming world.
India is quickly becoming one of the top gaming markets in the world. With over 500 million gamers and more people gaining access to smartphones and the internet, the gaming industry in India is booming. In fact, it’s already worth over $3 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to more than $8.6 billion by 2027.
As this growth continues, gaming investors in India will play a huge role in shaping the future. From simple mobile games that millions enjoy to creative, story-based games that explore Indian culture and mythology, the next big gaming hit could come from anywhere. It might be built in a co-working space in Pune, a hostel room in Hyderabad, or even a small garage in Guwahati.
And sometimes, all it takes is one smart pre-seed investor to believe in the idea, provide early support, and help turn a fun side project into a global success. This is especially true for mobile game investors and video game angel investors who understand the risks and opportunities in this fast-moving space.
In this exciting journey, founders and investors are working side-by-side to shape the future of gaming in India one level at a time.
The Indian gaming revolution is real, and it’s just getting started. If you’re building a game, this is the perfect time to seek out investors who understand the gaming sector and are excited about early-stage risks.
These top pre-seed investors for gaming startups are betting big on India’s creative and coding talent and if you’ve got a powerful idea, they’re ready to back you.
From mentorship to marketing, they bring more than just money to the table. So level up your pitch, polish that prototype, and take the leap India’s gaming future is waiting.
Because making a game takes time, talent, and tools. Unlike other startups, gaming companies need money upfront just to build and test their product. Pre-seed funding helps them get off the ground.
No. While mobile gaming is big, investors are also putting money into other areas like esports, blockchain games, AR/VR, and even user-generated content platforms.
They want to see a strong team, early user feedback, a clear market need, and how the game can grow fast or go viral.
