SUMMARY
- Deftouch has secured an undisclosed amount of funding co-led by KRAFTON among others.
- The round also saw the participation of existing investors Visceral Capital and Play Venture.
- The firm aims to expand its current lineup of games with the funding.
Gaming producer Deftouch has secured an undisclosed amount of funding co-led by KRAFTON, T-accelerate Capital and existing investor Lumikai. This funding round also saw the participation of existing investors Visceral Capital and Play Venture.
With the new funds, the Bengaluru-based firm aims to expand its current lineup of games (known as King Of Cricket), create new titles, and attract fresh talent to its team.
Ninad Bhagwat, CEO and Co-founder mentioned, “We love to experiment with bold concepts. Even though we are building a cricket game right now, we like to experiment a lot with features that might unlock certain monetisation schemes and so on.”
He added that the funds will be used to explore innovative features and pursue ambitious ideas in the future.
Deftouch was launched in 2017 by Bhagwat and Keshav Sunder with a focus on mobile gaming, specializing in sports. It has over 2 million daily active users and has claimed that its game, ‘King of Cricket,’ gained 10 million downloads in the year 2024.
Other games under its portfolio include Cricket Star, RCB Cricket, and All Star Cricket.
The company has received early-stage funding from Kalaari Capital and angel investors Arun Venkatachalam. It bagged $1.5 million investment from Lumikai and Play Ventures in 2021.
This news comes shortly after KRAFTON India announced the expansion of its first gaming incubator cohort by welcoming two new startups – Dunali Games and Arjuna Studios.
Bhagwat expressed excitement about the addition of KRAFTON India, T-Accelerate Capital, and Visceral Capital to their team. Their rich industry knowledge and expertise are expected to drive Deftouch to new heights. Bhagwat also mentioned their pride in Lumikai Fund and Play Ventures for their continued support, highlighting their role in the company’s success.
He also stated that Deftouch is planning to seek out a Series A funding round before the end of next year.
Notably, the company is considering the establishment of a research and development (R&D) center in India by 2026, as part of its South Korean gaming major’s strategy to invest $150 million in Indian gaming and entertainment companies over the next two to three years.
