Gaming
All India Gaming Federation announces the second edition of AIGF Knowledge series
Mumbai: All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), the apex industry body for the online gaming sector in India, announced the upcoming second edition of the AIGF Knowledge Series. This groundbreaking initiative is set to take place at Bengaluru GAFX 2024, a flagship annual event of the Indian animation, VFX, gaming, and comics (AVGC) industry, supported by the Government of Karnataka.
The “AIGF Knowledge Series” is a cohesive module to spark up conversations and create awareness about the online skill gaming landscape. The series will be held in collaboration with different states in the country to foster insightful and riveting discussions across strategic gaming themes through panel discussions, fireside chats by various domain experts from the industry and gaming ecosystem. The first edition was successfully conducted in Meghalaya and the second knowledge series is scheduled to take place at Lalit, Bengaluru, on 31 January 2024, starting at 3 pm. Renowned industry experts, thought leaders, and key stakeholders will gather to share valuable insights into the latest developments, challenges, and solutions in the realm of online gaming safety.
The Indian online gaming industry is at the cusp of transformation and is poised to only grow further. In 2023, India’s online gaming market had revenues of Rs 260 billion ($ 3.1 billion) and is expected to grow to Rs 625 billion ($ 7.5 billion) in the next five years, as per a report. An event of this nature is intended to benefit game creators, industry, and gamers alike and serve towards the goal of creating a safe, secure, trusted and accountable gaming ecosystem within Digital India.
All India Gaming Federation CEO Roland Landers expressed his delight at introducing AIGF’s flagship knowledge series in Bengaluru. He stated, “Our objective with this series is to facilitate insightful and engaging discussions on strategic gaming themes. We also aim to collaborate with other key states in the future to enhance outreach and awareness towards online gaming. Through this knowledge series, we invite all stakeholders in the gaming industry to actively participate in this insightful event. By fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge, we can collectively contribute to the development of a safer and more trusted online gaming ecosystem.”
Moreover, as the Indian online gaming industry continues to evolve, the AIGF Knowledge Series at Bengaluru GAFX 2024 stands as a pivotal platform for industry stakeholders to collaborate, share insights, and shape the future of the online gaming landscape.
Event Registration Link: https://aigf.glueup.com/event/97443/register/
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.
