Nazara Technologies Announces INR 196 Cr Investment in Gaming, EdTech, and Kids Entertainment

- Nazara Technologies has announced an investment of INR 196 Crore in five key companies, strengthening its position in the gaming, entertainment, and edtech sectors.
- The investments include INR 64 Crore in esports subsidiary Nodwin, INR 69 Crore to acquire full ownership of Sportskeeda, INR 15 Crore in adtech firm Datawrkz, INR 43.7 Crore for a 60% stake in kids’ play center chain Funky Monkeys, and INR 4.2 Crore for a stake in AI-powered edtech platform Learntube.ai.
- These moves are part of Nazara’s broader strategy to diversify its portfolio and drive growth in emerging technologies and industries.
Key Investments by Nazara Technologies
Investment in Nodwin: INR 64 Cr Nazara Technologies is set to invest INR 64 Crore in Nodwin Gaming, its esports subsidiary. This investment will be made by subscribing to optionally convertible preference shares, enabling the company to support Nodwin’s growth and bolster its intellectual properties. Nodwin is one of the major revenue drivers for Nazara, and the funding will fuel its expansion in the esports domain, which has seen exponential growth in recent years. This move aligns with Nazara’s vision to strengthen its gaming portfolio and its presence in the esports ecosystem.
Acquisition of Full Ownership in Sportskeeda: INR 69 Cr Nazara is also increasing its stake in Sportskeeda, a popular global gaming and sports media platform. The company will invest INR 69 Crore to purchase shares arising from the exercise of employee stock options (ESOPs). Following this transaction, Nazara will own 100% of Absolute Sports, the parent company of Sportskeeda, making it a fully owned subsidiary. This acquisition solidifies Nazara’s foothold in the sports and gaming media landscape, enhancing its digital portfolio.
Investment in Datawrkz: INR 15 Cr In a move to boost its presence in the adtech space, Nazara will invest INR 15 Crore in Datawrkz, an adtech subsidiary. The investment will be made through the subscription of compulsorily convertible cumulative preference shares (CCPS). Nazara first acquired a 33% stake in Datawrkz in 2022, and this additional investment will help further develop the adtech capabilities of the subsidiary, reinforcing its strategic importance in the digital marketing ecosystem.
Acquisition of Stake in Funky Monkeys: INR 43.7 Cr Expanding its interests beyond digital media, Nazara is acquiring a 60% stake in Funky Monkeys Play Centers, an indoor play centre chain for kids. Founded in 2012 by Binita Putcha and Sanjay Ghadiali, Funky Monkeys operates 11 centres across India and is a leader in the indoor kids’ play centre segment. With this acquisition, Nazara aims to leverage its digital intellectual properties, such as Kiddopia, to create synergies that will enhance the experience for children and families. The INR 43.7 Crore investment will enable Nazara to tap into the growing demand for physical and digital entertainment experiences for kids.
Investment in Learntube.ai: INR 4.2 Cr Nazara is also making its first foray into AI-powered education with an investment of INR 4.2 Crore for a 4.7% stake in Learntube.ai, an edtech platform that uses AI to deliver personalized learning experiences. Learntube, formerly known as CareerNinja, integrates gamification with education to make learning more engaging and interactive. This investment is part of Nazara’s broader strategy to diversify its portfolio, focusing on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Nazara’s CEO, Nitish Mittersain, highlighted that this investment marks the company’s first AI investment, which will play a key role in building its diversified platform.
Nazara's Strategic Growth Plans
In addition to these investments, Nazara has made several acquisitions in 2024, including stakes in Pokerbaazi, Paperboat, STAN, Fusebox, Ninja Global FZCO, Freaks 4U, and Circle of Games. These strategic moves highlight Nazara’s commitment to building the largest diversified gaming and entertainment platform in India.
Financial Outlook
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