Minit Games Secures $2 Million in Pre-Seed Funding
Minit Games, a mobile gaming startup based in Hamburg, Germany, has successfully raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round. The round was led by LVP and Sony Innovation Fund, with additional investments from industry angels Stefan Klemm, Timo Soininen, and Klaas Kersting. The company, founded by Mark Buchholz and Ole Schaper, is set to redefine how players discover and interact with games through its innovative platform.
A New Approach to Game Discovery
Minit Games is developing a novel feed-first platform for short-form gaming. Unlike traditional app stores that rely on rankings and storefront placements, Minit's platform aims to simplify the game discovery process by integrating games directly into a personalized content feed. This approach allows users to scroll through a selection of interactive titles and play them instantly, without the need for downloads or navigating through store pages.
"Players live in algorithmic feeds, but games are still trapped in stores," said Ole Schaper, co-founder of Minit Games. "We’re building a destination where short-form games are as easy to discover and engage with as any other modern media format."
Strategic Use of Funds
The freshly secured funds will primarily be used to expand Minit Games' team and accelerate the technical rollout of its platform. The company is gearing up for an invite-only early alpha launch, which will allow initial users to experience the new platform and provide feedback.
Open Ecosystem for Developers
Minit Games is also positioning its platform as an open ecosystem for developers. Game creators can use professional game engines or emerging AI coding tools to build their games and publish them directly into Minit's feed. The platform's recommendation engine will analyze user interactions and engagement signals to deliver content to the most relevant audiences.
Looking Ahead
As Minit Games prepares for its alpha launch, it aims to address the longstanding issue of discoverability in the gaming industry. By shifting the discovery process into a personalized feed, the company believes it can offer players more relevant content while providing developers with improved visibility for their games.
Minit Games' innovative approach could potentially transform the gaming landscape, making it easier for players to find and enjoy new games without the typical barriers associated with traditional mobile game distribution.