The GameTech Wizard
Established in early 2018 by Saumya Singh Rathore, WinZo provides a platform to third-party game developers to host their games. It enables them to earn up to 100 times more than conventional revenue models such as in-app purchases (IAP) and ads.
The WinZO platform facilitates more than 2.5 billion micro-transactions per month across a portfolio of over 100 games available in more than six formats. The platform is available in 12 languages including English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and Bhojpuri, with more than 75 million registered users.
One of the key challenges was building trust amongst the audiences in India. WinZO was launched with the intent of creating a one-stop-shop for social interactive entertainment for audiences from a wide-ranging demographic.
Community building
In addition to acceptability, a significant understanding of the deepest markets in the country to offer vernacularisation was equally challenging. In order to create acceptability, it continued to channelise efforts to build a trusted community of users, game developers and micro-influencers.
After completing her master's from the University of Manchester, Rathore decided to join ZO Rooms. Following a brief stint with the company, she decided to launch WinZO Games, but with a twist. Contrary to conventional online platforms, WinZO decided to launch across Tier-2 to Tier-5 cities.
Talking about the gaming industry, Rathore says, “In the Indian gaming industry, most of the gaming companies including the global giants have felt a vacuum due to inefficient and unsustainable monetisation models.”
WinZO is a series C funded venture backed by global gaming and entertainment investment funds, having raised a total equity of USD 100 million. WinZO raised its latest round in July 2021 of USD 65 million led by California-based Griffin Gaming Partners.
The company is focused on building an enthusiastic community of gamers and gaming influencers across India. It envisions a future where the platform can deliver a culturally relevant and enjoyable experience in the Indian gaming ecosystem.
