Gaming
Kofluence secures investment from Nazara Technologies for influencer driven game discovery platform
Mumbai: Kofluence, the leading Social Media Influencer marketing tech platform in India announced a pivotal development in its growth trajectory as the board of Nazara Technologies Limited has officially sanctioned the acquisition of a 10.77 per cent stake in Kofluence.
As part of the share swap transaction, Nazara Technologies will issue 3,71,637 equity shares at a price of Rs 872.15/- per equity share, amounting to Rs 32,41,23,210 through a preferential issue on a private placement basis to the sellers.
Kofluence has established itself as India’s premier Social Media Influencer led marketing-tech platform, boasting a vibrant community of across platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The platform represents over 20 languages and operates as a full stack marketing platform, delivering performance metrics across the entire customer journey.
The collaboration between Kofluence and Nazara Technologies is geared towards the launch of an influencer-driven game discovery platform and community. This pioneering initiative aims to leverage the vast network of influencers on Kofluence to promote Nazara’s games across various social media platforms. Influencers with their ability to tailor content to their audience’s preferences, will generate excitement around new releases, boosting downloads and increasing visibility for Nazara’s gaming portfolio.
Nazara Technologies Jt. MD & CEO Nitish Mittersain expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Kofluence is pioneering creator economy led platforms and Sreeram’s extensive gaming experience is invaluable to create a pioneering influencer led game discovery platform and community. Our goal is to create an environment where gaming collaborates with the creativity of influencers, enriching the gaming experience for a global audience. Our new game publishing initiative ‘Nazara Publishing’ will particularly benefit from this new initiative”.
Kofluence co-founder, and CEO Sreeram Reddy Vanga, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “Nazara’s investment is a powerful validation of our joint mission to revolutionise the gaming industry. With our extensive network of creators, we’re well-positioned to greatly enhance the visibility and engagement of Nazara’s gaming portfolio. This partnership is not only expanding Nazara’s game reach but also reshaping game marketing dynamics, bringing every creator and user into an expansive and captivating gaming narrative.”
Kofluence co-founder Ritesh Ujjwal emphasised, “This strategic collaboration marks a pivotal moment in Kofluence’s journey. The gaming industry is swiftly asserting dominance in the handheld technology entertainment business sector, displaying relentless momentum. Moreover, with the surge of gaming influencers, brands have a unique opportunity to forge partnerships and connect with their dedicated followers. We are enthusiastic about the limitless possibilities that unfold as we seamlessly integrate influencer marketing and gaming innovation with Nazara Technologies.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
