Lumikai Fund

In a recent Digit feature, CEO Abhaas Shah of Studio Sirah, discussed the journey of the studio and their first game, Kurukshetra: Ascension, a strategy game inspired by Indian mythology. The interview highlights how the studio has built a dedicated player base while standing out in a market dominated by battle royales and hyper-casual titles. In the interview, Abhaas shares insights on the game’s design philosophy, its reception among players, and the challenges of building an Indian IP in a competitive gaming landscape. He discusses how the team approached integrating mythology into gameplay and why strategy games offer a unique way to engage with these narratives. Studio Sirah, founded by brothers Abhaas Shah and Prateek Shah, aims to bring Indian mythology to the global gaming market. Their debut title, ‘Kurukshetra: Ascension’, has achieved over 1M installs, at an ARPPU of $6.5 with a 30 day payback period for certain cohorts. With a strong player base not only in India, but also in Southeast Asia, and select Western regions, the game shows the potential of culturally rich, mid-core strategy games with best-in-class art and gameplay execution. At Lumikai, we are proud to be early backers of Studio Sirah. We look forward to supporting their journey as ‘Kurukshetra: Ascension’ continues its success and as the studio embarks onto their second game, continuing to shape the future of Indian gaming. You can read the entire article here at: https://lnkd.in/gPWfWErn

In a recent Digit feature, CEO Abhaas Shah of Studio Sirah, discussed the journey of the studio and their first game, Kurukshetra: Ascension, a strategy game inspired by Indian mythology. The interview highlights how the studio has built a dedicated player base while standing out in a market dominated by battle royales and hyper-casual titles. In the interview, Abhaas shares insights on the game’s design philosophy, its reception among players, and the challenges of building an Indian IP in a competitive gaming landscape. He discusses how the team approached integrating mythology into gameplay and why strategy games offer a unique way to engage with these narratives. Studio Sirah, founded by brothers Abhaas Shah and Prateek Shah, aims to bring Indian mythology to the global gaming market. Their debut title, ‘Kurukshetra: Ascension’, has achieved over 1M installs, at an ARPPU of $6.5 with a 30 day payback period for certain cohorts. With a strong player base not only in India, but also in Southeast Asia, and select Western regions, the game shows the potential of culturally rich, mid-core strategy games with best-in-class art and gameplay execution. At Lumikai, we are proud to be early backers of Studio Sirah. We look forward to supporting their journey as ‘Kurukshetra: Ascension’ continues its success and as the studio embarks onto their second game, continuing to shape the future of Indian gaming. You can read the entire article here at: https://lnkd.in/gPWfWErn

Aditya Deshpande, Senior Associate at Lumikai Fund, recently delivered a masterclass at Bengaluru GAFX 2025, engaging with founders and students in the AVGC-XR space. Titled "Fundraising 101 for Interactive Media & Gaming Startups," the session covered key aspects of building and scaling ventures, including industry trends, business strategies, and challenges unique to the sector. It was well attended by startup founders, students, and professionals looking to gain practical insights and a deeper understanding of the ecosystem. We appreciate GAFX for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. The masterclass provided valuable takeaways for entrepreneurs navigating the evolving AVGC-XR landscape. You can watch the entire masterclass here at: https://lnkd.in/dC5xXxjk

We’re continuing our #EyeofLumikai series with a special 5-part edition, featuring insights from top US industry leaders in gaming, media, and entertainment. As part of an exclusive gathering of the 42Geeks, we hosted these global leaders in India, many of them visiting India for the first time, to not just to talk about the market, but to experience it firsthand. Through curated panel discussions and deep dives with our portfolio founders, we showcased the real India opportunity and how digital consumption and demographic shifts are shaping the future of interactive media and gaming. Today we have, Dennis Chookaszian. Dennis was the Chairman and CEO of CNA Insurance for over 25 years. He was also the Director and Chairman of Risk Committee and Audit Committees for Maxar Technologies and CME group respectively. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago for the past 20 years. At the 42 Geeks event, Dennis spoke about how he has witnessed first hand the changing investment climate of India and how the young, tech enable demographic in India are driving the larger venture opportunity for the country.

Salone Sehgal, Founding General Partner, Lumikai Fund, will be attending GDC in San Francisco next week. She will be there throughout the week, championing our portfolio founders, engaging in conversations with key stakeholders, and representing Lumikai, India’s pioneering interactive media and gaming fund, at one of the industry's most significant global events. Looking forward to insightful discussions and connections.

Salone Sehgal, Founding General Partner at Lumikai Fund, recently spoke at Web Summit Qatar as part of a panel discussion on the venture capital and start up landscape in India. The session brought together industry leaders to explore the evolving investment landscape and the factors shaping the future of startups in the region. The panel, titled ‘Funding India’s Future,’ alongside Bhawna Bhatnagar from WeFounder Circle was moderated by Anup Kaphle, Editor-in-Chief of Rest of World. The discussion covered key investment trends, the growth of India’s startup ecosystem, and shifting investor expectations. It also touched upon the rapid expansion of interactive media and gaming, highlighting the opportunities emerging within these sectors. We would like to thank, Web Summit Qatar for hosting an insightful discussion that provided valuable perspectives for founders, operators, and investors alike and a wonderful event as well. You can watch the entire panel discussion here: https://lnkd.in/ddmjcDXU

A huge congratulations to Vobble for successfully raising a new round of funding, led by MIXI Global Investments, with participation from existing backers, including Lumikai Fund, Namita Thapar, and Sattva Investments. This latest investment will support the company's expansion into the US market and deliver their AI-assisted audio product designed for children. Founded by Neha Sharma and Sowmya Jagannath, Vobble is reimagining children's entertainment through interactive, screen-free storytelling. Their innovative audio platform blends immersive storytelling, music, and games, offering a safe and screen-free environment for children to explore, create, and learn. With a focus on making high-quality, engaging content more accessible, Vobble is disrupting traditional products with an affordable, content-first approach. With this fresh round of funding, the founders are set to deepen their AI-first vision, enhancing interactivity and personalization in children's audio experiences. The capital will also fuel their US market entry, bringing their pocket-sized audio player from India to the world. Neha and Sowmya’s deep expertise and team Vobble’s passionate commitment, has shaped Vobble’s unique approach to kids’ interactive media, and this next phase will further their mission of redefining storytelling for young audiences. As early backers, we at Lumikai are proud to support Vobble’s journey. Their vision, execution, and commitment to building meaningful, screen-free experiences for children continues to inspire. We look forward to seeing them scale new heights and bring their innovative product to more children and families worldwide. You can read more about the announcement here at: https://lnkd.in/ggNp9uED

Congratulations to Vobble for their follow-on round with MIXI, Inc to redefine kids’ audio entertainment! It has been a pleasure to be on this journey with Neha Sharma and Sowmya Jagannath as they ready themselves to launch in the US. Vobble's unique approach of a "Theatre in Your Mind" leverages the best of immersive, interactive audio stories, games and music, blends that with AI powered personalised UGC content and an autonomous device which allows children the agency explore, create, and play in a safe, ad-free environment. At Lumikai Fund We can't wait to see what's next for Team Vobble! Onwards and upwards. 🚀 https://lnkd.in/g-QrjFu9

We’re continuing our #EyeofLumikai series with a special 5-part edition, featuring insights from top US industry leaders in gaming, media, and entertainment. As part of an exclusive gathering of the 42 Geeks, we hosted these global leaders in India, many of them visiting India for the first time, to not just to talk about the market, but to experience it firsthand. Through curated panel discussions and deep dives with our portfolio founders, we showcased the real India opportunity and how digital consumption and demographic shifts are shaping the future of interactive media and gaming. Today we have, Derek Groothuis. Derek is the Managing Director of Prota Ventures. He started off his career as a developer and worked as the Head of Development at Bank of America, and alter as the Chief Software Officer as DRW Trading Group. He was also the CTO at RKR Capital and Aquatic Capital before moving to Prota. At the 42 geeks event, Derek spoke about the entrepreneurial talent, the changing mindset of the Indian consumer and thus the growth opportunity that India market presents to global investors.

Vobble is being featured as a finalist in the at the 17th annual SXSW happening over the weekend. They are also at the New York Toy Fair 2025 and at both events Vobble is showcasing its groundbreaking AI-driven audio platform for children, redefining engagement through immersive storytelling and interactive experiences. If you're at SXSW, don’t miss the chance to meet Neha Sharma and Sowmya Jagannath and experience Vobble firsthand. Their mission to create affordable, child-centric audio solutions is shaping the future of kids’ entertainment. As early investors in Vobble, we’re incredibly proud of the team and wish them the very best this weekend! https://lnkd.in/dGvkM9hn