Bengaluru: Qila Games, a Bengaluru-based hybrid-casual gaming startup, has successfully raised $1 million in pre-seed funding led by Chimera VC, with participation from Visceral Capital, Atrium Angels, Ventatana Ventures, 91 Ventures, Untitled Ventures, and other angel investors. This investment will propel Qila Games’ vision of bringing hybrid-casual gaming to India and the world, combining easy accessibility with deeper engagement mechanics to create immersive, socially engaging experiences.
Founded in 2024 by Dhananjai Hari and Neeraj Mishra, Qila Games is on a mission to redefine mobile gaming for Indian and emerging market audiences. The fresh capital will be used to develop original intellectual properties (IPs), expand the game portfolio, and strengthen technology and design capabilities.
Dhananjai Hari, Co-Founder, Qila Games, expressed his excitement about the funding round: “India and other emerging markets are at the cusp of a major shift in mobile gaming, and hybrid-casual is set to be the next big category. We are proud to see our investors entrusting us and our vision to disrupt the hybrid-casual gaming space. With this funding, we are doubling down on building engaging, high-quality games that resonate with these audiences. Our approach of being consumer-centric and listening to our audiences before we design and develop our product gives us confidence to remain optimistic about the future.”
The Indian gaming industry is experiencing rapid growth, with rising demand for innovative and immersive mobile gaming experiences. Investors believe that Qila Games’ unique hybrid-casual approach can capture this demand and drive long-term engagement.
Krish Anurag GP, Chimera Venture Capital, highlighted Qila Games’ potential: “The Indian gaming industry is creating phenomenal IPs, and being able to support these founders and their vision has been a privilege. Qila Games has struck a perfect balance between bite-sized entertainment and meta progression to create immersiveness that can impact users. The consumer-centric focus and scalability of the product create a strong approach. I am looking forward to experiencing some high-quality hybrid-casual games from Qila Games in the near future.”
Cecilia Oldne, Founding Partner, Visceral Capital, emphasized the strength of the founding team, “Dhananjai and Neeraj have spent years creating high-quality games for top studios with great success. Building a studio is tough—it takes both skill and determination. We’re excited to partner with Qila’s team, who have both in spades.”
