Nazara Technologies Limited, India’s only listed diversified gaming and sports media company, has announced a series of five strategic investments totaling INR 196 Crores aimed at strengthening its position in the gaming and entertainment ecosystems.
The company has expanded into physical entertainment with a significant acquisition of a 60% stake in Funky Monkeys Play Centers Pvt. Ltd., an indoor soft play center operator for children. This investment, worth INR 43.7 Crores, will allow Nazara to tap into the growing market for family-oriented recreational centers. Funky Monkeys currently operates 11 centers across India, offering interactive play experiences for children. Co-founders Binita Putcha and Sanjay Ghadiali expressed their excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the synergy between Nazara’s digital products and Funky Monkeys’ physical offerings.
Additionally, Nazara has invested INR 4.2 Crores for a 4.7% stake in Learntube.ai, an AI-powered platform that is revolutionizing education through gamified and interactive learning. With over 20 lakh learners, Learntube is one of the world’s largest personalized learning platforms, providing affordable, interactive educational experiences for professional skilling.
Nazara has also increased its stake in several of its existing subsidiaries. The company will invest INR 64 Crores in Nodwin Gaming, a leading esports platform, to further enhance its intellectual properties and expand in emerging markets. Furthermore, Nazara will invest INR 69 Crores in Absolute Sports (Sportskeeda), purchasing shares from management to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary. An additional INR 15 Crores will be invested in Datawrkz, a digital ad tech company, to support its ongoing growth.
Speaking on the investments, Nitish Mittersain, Managing Director of Nazara, stated, “Nazara is committed to building the largest diversified gaming and entertainment platform out of India. These investments are a strategic move to propel profitable growth in gaming, esports, and entertainment.”
