Bengaluru hosts LVL Zero Demo Day as 10 gaming startups pitch global ambitions

LVL Zero Indias first gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments Nazara Technologies and Chimera VC concluded its inaugural 100day incubation programme with a Demo Day in Bengaluru where 10 game development startups pitched their products and business strategies to investors publishers and industry leadersThe event brought together representatives from leading gaming companies venture capital firms and technology platforms to witness the next generation of Indian game development studios preparing for global marketsThe inaugural cohort was selected from more than 240 applications received from across India During the 100day programme each startup received an equityfree grant of USD 10000 along with mentorship strategic guidance and access to publishers and industry experts to refine their products and prepare for commercial launches publishing partnerships and fundraisingThe participating startups included Kyrel Games Trojan Productions Wrought Studios Impulse Mechanics YK Game Studio Arckon Arts Xigma Games Prescription Studios Rudrac Games and KALP Studio Their projects spanned PC console and mobile platforms covering genres such as narrative adventures strategy games sandbox experiences cooperative puzzle titles psychological horror and experimental gameplayMajor technology companies including Sony Krafton and Google were also presentThroughout the day founders presented their products development journeys and growth plans to an audience comprising investors publishers and ecosystem stakeholdersThe event attracted participation from major gaming and technology companies including Sony Interactive Entertainment Krafton Roblox Unity and Google alongside investment firms such as Accel Blume Ventures Elevation Capital India Quotient Venture Catalysts and the Yale University Endowment Fund reflecting increasing investor interest in Indias growing game development ecosystemSpeaking at the event Managing Director of Investments at MIXI Global Investments Tomoharu Urabe said ldquoThe incubator was created to help Indias game development talent build globally competitive studios rather than simply individual gamesrdquoHe added Over the last 100 days weve seen founders refine their products sharpen their business thinking and take meaningful steps toward building globally competitive studios Demo Day reflects what can happen when founders mentors investors and publishers come together with a shared vision of building the future of gamingThe incubator was launched to address a key challenge within Indias gaming industry by helping developers transition from building games to building sustainable businesses Participants received support across funding mentorship talent distribution and global expansion opportunitiesDeepak MV Head of Strategy at Nazara Technologies said India has no shortage of talent or creativity What has often been missing is structured support mentorship and access to the right networks The progress made by these startups over the last 100 days reinforces our belief that initiatives like LVL Zero can help build a sustainable pipeline of globally competitive gaming companies from IndiaKrish Anurag Managing Partner at Chimera VC and Founding Partner of LVL Zero said The diversity of projects showcased across PC console mobile narrative strategy and multiplayer experiences highlights the depth of talent emerging from India More importantly it demonstrates that Indian studios are increasingly building with global ambition from day oneThe Demo Day also served as a networking platform enabling startups to engage with potential investors publishers and strategic partners as they move into the next phase of growthThe organisers cited the FICCIEY Media amp Entertainment Industry Report 2026 which estimates that Indian studios with globally successful titles generated between USD 08 billion and USD 12 billion in revenue during 202526 with 40 to over 90 per cent of earnings coming from international markets The report projects that global revenues from games developed in India could grow by 2030 per cent annually to reach USD 2848 billion by 202829Looking ahead LVL Zero said it plans to support more than 100 gaming startups over the next five years with the aim of strengthening Indias position as a global hub for game development and original intellectual property