Cosmic Lounge’s Post

Clout Kitchen, a consumer AI startup operating in Los Angeles and Manila, has just closed a US$4.45 million seed funding round! Co-led by A16Z GAMES SPEEDRUN and Peak XV Partners's Surge, with participation from AppWorks, Antler, Hustle Fund, and more – including gaming heavyweights like Gabby Dizon (YGG), Kun Gao (Crunchyroll), and top League of Legends pros Voyboy, Jankos, and Perkz – this funding will help Clout Kitchen scale its team, establish its US office, and develop its tech stack for future creator-powered experiences. Clout Kitchen’s first product, Backseat AI, is already making waves with over 45,000 waitlist signups! This in-game "buddy" for League of Legends, co-built with Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp, offers real-time gameplay guidance with an AI voice twin of popular creators. Pricing starts at just $4.99/month, with creators earning from every subscription. Led by gaming innovators Justin Gorriceta-Banusing (CEO) and Marcel Feldkamp (CBO), Clout Kitchen is on a mission to unlock new ways for creators to engage with their fan base while growing the entire ecosystem. #e27News #Gaming #AI #CreatorEconomy #CloutKitchen #LeagueOfLegends #SeedFunding #Innovation #Tech

Clout Kitchen, a consumer AI startup operating in Los Angeles and Manila, has just closed a US$4.45 million seed funding round! Co-led by A16Z GAMES SPEEDRUN and Peak XV Partners's Surge, with participation from AppWorks, Antler, Hustle Fund, and more – including gaming heavyweights like Gabby Dizon (YGG), Kun Gao (Crunchyroll), and top League of Legends pros Voyboy, Jankos, and Perkz – this funding will help Clout Kitchen scale its team, establish its US office, and develop its tech stack for future creator-powered experiences. Clout Kitchen’s first product, Backseat AI, is already making waves with over 45,000 waitlist signups! This in-game "buddy" for League of Legends, co-built with Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp, offers real-time gameplay guidance with an AI voice twin of popular creators. Pricing starts at just $4.99/month, with creators earning from every subscription. Led by gaming innovators Justin Gorriceta-Banusing (CEO) and Marcel Feldkamp (CBO), Clout Kitchen is on a mission to unlock new ways for creators to engage with their fan base while growing the entire ecosystem. #e27News #Gaming #AI #CreatorEconomy #CloutKitchen #LeagueOfLegends #SeedFunding #Innovation #Tech

⚠️ Sorare’s trial tomorrow is a wake-up call for all of Web3. When #gaming giants like Sorare, backed by major investors like SoftBank Group Corp. and Accel, are facing serious regulatory heat, it’s a sign that none of us are immune. Compliance isn’t optional anymore. Today, our co-founder, Morten Rongaard, opens up about the challenges Sorare is facing and how #compliance can make all the difference. We’re proud to stand alongside innovators like Reality+, Punk Secrets, GLOBULA, WhiteLabel Games 🎮 Marketing Games for Businesses, and Doerscircle. They trust us to help them sleep better at night, knowing their compliance is covered. Kudos for their progressive approach and for setting a solid benchmark in managing compliance in due course. 🤝 Don’t wait until it’s too late. Reach out today! Let’s keep #Web3 growing together, responsibly. #PixelPai #community

We shoot -We score! ⚽️ It’s been a fantastic month at GameOn, and we are really proud to provide a platform for our clients to share their latest news and insights. In this issue of FocusOn, we give you, the reader, a glimpse of some of the topics we tackled last month. Find out what these brilliant companies had to say last month. 👀 Featuring Fantasma Games, PlayStar, BETBAZAR, Swintt, Continent 8 Technologies, Golden Whale, SkillOnNet, Peter & Sons, Fincore Ltd, All-in Diversity Project, European Gaming Media, Booming Games, Gaming in Holland, Hipther, Gamingslots, 1X2 Network, MightyTips, BETER, Stakelogic, SGG Media, Livespins, Big Time Gaming, Gaming Corps, Apparat Gaming, Slotsjudge, Wedia, VentureMax Group, Fujitsu, PandaScore, Intelitics Software, Wiztech Group, Solitics, Silverback Gaming, First Look Games, Blaze Gaming, La Royale Gaming Investments, Glitnor Group, Comparasino, Winlandia and Black Cow Tech. Check it out and let us know what you think below! 👇 #iGaming #iGamingNews #Marketing #PR #News

🎮 How does a small city like Dundee go from industrial roots to being a global gaming hotspot…? Find out in our latest #PlayableFutures article - in partnership with Ukie GamesIndustry.Biz and Amazon Web Services (AWS)

🎮 What's a AAA game, and what does it take to build one? We’re excited about the incredible panel we hosted at our 2024 Summit, featuring veterans John Smedley, Stephen Lim and Michael Chow, the minds behind Everquest, Valorant, and Wild Rift sharing their journey in AAA gaming. The insights were too good not to share! 🤔 What defines AAA? "You know it when you see it" • Groundbreaking quality and depth • Strong legacy brands that consistently wow players • Exceptional value for money • And yes, you can grow into AAA status (just look at Fortnite's evolution!) 💡 Key Takeaways: 1. The democratization of game development tools is changing things. Even indies can now have AAA aspirations! 2. While it still requires significant capital and focus, VC understanding of gaming has evolved dramatically. When we at BITKRAFT started investing in AAA in 2018, we were pioneers. Now, it's becoming consensus. 3. Smart resource allocation is crucial. As one panelist noted: "There's such a thing as wrong AAA." Focus on what players actually want rather than unnecessary features. 🎯 The biggest challenge? Risk-taking, especially at large companies. This creates a fantastic opportunity for startups willing to take bold swings. Want more insights from these gaming legends? Full panel discussion available here 👇

Last week, we had a good time at the HIT Games Conference in Berlin. Thank you for the organization! We paneled, discussing the industry and all the challenges we are facing at the moment, like AI changing the labor market, Web3, and crisis. You know what was interesting — the question Florian Dreschner asked the audience. (btw, you are insanely good at moderating, thank you!) Did anybody profit from launching their product on the Web3 market? No hands. How many stories, teams, and projects had been building behind the scenes of the global hype? How many of them succeed in real? Not just on media announcements and news to make hype around some particular product? I'm not talking about fundraising; I'm talking about profitable business models. That's the question. And that's related to the overall reputation of Web3 gaming. So, I see only one way here — build a product people love using any method and technology and then try to monetize it and get a positive ROI. The time of hype has passed, and the reality is that only technology is not enough. We have to be more resilient and passionate, and we have to keep building. Thank you for your thoughts on the stage, Paul Flanagan and Sofia Senatorova. See you soon! Thank you, Denys Kliuch, for joining the journey; you did great. Good luck!

*Side Quests & Big Bets: Exploring our gaming Vision with Peggy Anne Salz* I’m still buzzing from my conversation with Peggy Anne Salz and co-host Brian Baglow! As someone who’s followed Peggy’s authoritative commentary on all things mobile and gaming—Forbes, PocketGamer.biz, you name it—it was a real treat to showcase our unique approach to investing and scaling gaming studios at Jetapult. The actual talk actually ran twice as long as planned (I don’t envy the editor). As often happens with a bunch of old-school gamers in one room, we dove into some random side quests—everything from my obsession with KitKat bars and chai to the differences between Bombay Chaat and its Edinburgh variants (is Scottish chaat good enough?) There’s probably enough material on the cutting-room floor for a dedicated food podcast! In the final cut, we still covered a ton: - Jetapult’s partnership-first Investmet approach vs. standard VC funding and publishing - The hero myth that #gaming founders struggle with - The power of culturally aligned gameplay (including a #1 app store hit) - How data + cultural insights can help games resonate with local audiences - AI-driven tools that cut production time by 70%—freeing studios to stay creative - Investor pitch tips from both sides of the table—plus how studios can keep their creative freedom If you’re a gaming founder, industry enthusiast, or investor looking for fresh perspectives, don’t miss this. Huge thanks to Peggy for shining a spotlight on what we’re doing at Jetapult! Check out the episode here: https://lnkd.in/dz77XcgB Or read Peggy’s original post below for all the details. Yash Baid Anuj Tandon Vaishnavi Shinde Disha Shah #gaming #Investment #Acquisitions #MENA #EmergingMarkets UMX Studio | يومكس ستوديو #AIinGaming

🧠 Wisdom can take years to build—or just one conversation with someone who’s been there. In this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya Caliujnaia sits down with Emily Greer, Venture Partner at 1Up Ventures and former CEO of Kongregate, to unpack hard-earned lessons from a decade in gaming. Emily’s journey offers invaluable insights on topics like: 👉 Applying ecommerce strategies to boost F2P gaming success 👉 Building teams that scale and thrive 👉 Navigating M&A (including selling Kongregate—twice) 👉 The evolution from browser games to mobile publishing If you’re eager to grow and learn from those who’ve forged their path, this episode is a must-listen. 👀 or 🎧 --> https://lnkd.in/gqUfah3Z

"Market conditions today make it crucial for founders to prove traction and show validation early." — Kam Punia, Founder of Pixion Games   We’re excited to feature Kam Punia, founder of Pixion Games in our latest #FoundersPlaybook spotlight. Kam’s background includes over a decade of experience launching 40+ successful game titles and building industry-leading partnerships.   Kam shares his tips for navigating today’s funding climate and post-funding strategy essentials:   💬 Bootstrap and validate—With limited capital available, founders should bootstrap where possible and lean on early-stage support to develop proof of concept, which can make a significant impact before reaching the seed round.   🚀 Know your business model and funding path—“Do you want to retain control and grow steadily, or scale rapidly with VC support?” Defining goals early is key, as funding choices ultimately shape the company’s culture and pressure points.   👥 Prioritise value-add angels—Beyond capital, angels bring critical experience and networks, helping founders de-risk their venture and build momentum for the next funding stage.   Check out Kam’s full Q&A for more insights (link in comments) #MeetTheExpert #ExpertInsights #IndustryInsights #FoundersPlaybook