The mobile gaming industry in Europe is a fast-evolving sector driven by innovation and creativity. Companies range from small indie developers to major publishers, creating everything from casual apps to immersive narrative-driven titles. Notably, the industry's growing connection to technologies like augmented reality and blockchain highlights its potential future. Insights suggest an increase in partnerships and acquisitions, as firms aim to enhance their game offerings and expand their reach. With Europe boasting a rich talent pool, the industry’s trajectory indicates greater international collaboration and increasingly sophisticated game experiences for players.

The list features a mix of venture capital firms and corporate investors, predominantly based in London and Paris. Founded between 1986 and 2019, these investors vary widely in size, ranging from startups of less than ten employees to major players with thousands on their payroll. In 2024, the combined investment activities of these twelve entities reached nearly 360 deals, showcasing their enthusiasm for mobile gaming ventures and the sector's potential for growth. Their varied focus allows them to target innovative projects, enhancing the mobile gaming ecosystem in Europe.

Top 12 Mobile Gaming Investors in Europe

1. Kima Ventures

• Website: kimaventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
• Founded year: 2010
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 50
• LinkedIn: kima-ventures

Kima Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage startups across various sectors, providing financial support and mentorship to help them grow. Kima Ventures backs two startups per week, demonstrating a high level of activity in the investment landscape. Notably, Kima Ventures has made significant investments in the mobile gaming industry, including funding for Pixowl, a multi-platform mobile developer known for creating games featuring The Grub character. They participated in multiple funding rounds for Pixowl, including a $1.2 million funding round in 2012 and an earlier seed round of $150,000. Additionally, Kima Ventures invested in Tamatem, a mobile gaming company, further showcasing their commitment to the mobile gaming sector. Their involvement in Flashbreak, which raised $2 million in a Series A round, also highlights their engagement with mobile gaming startups. Overall, Kima Ventures' diverse portfolio and specific investments in mobile gaming make them a notable investor in this field.

2. Keywords Studios

• Website: keywordsstudios.com
• Type: Corporate
• Headquarters: Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
• Founded year: 1998
• Headcount: 10001+
• Number of deals in 2024: 2
• LinkedIn: keywordsstudios

Keywords Studios plc is a corporate investor based in Dublin, Ireland, specializing in video game services that encompass various aspects of game development, including art, audio, localization, and quality assurance. Founded in 1998, Keywords Studios has grown to become a major service provider in the gaming industry, with a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees. In recent years, they have made strategic acquisitions to bolster their presence in the gaming market, including the acquisition of Smoking Gun Interactive, a Vancouver-based game development studio, and Mighty Games Group, both of which contribute to mobile gaming development. Additionally, their acquisition of Climax Studios and High Voltage Software further demonstrates their commitment to expanding their portfolio in the gaming sector, including mobile titles. These transactions highlight Keywords Studios' active role in the mobile gaming industry, making them a relevant investor in this space.

3. Index Ventures

• Website: indexventures.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
• Founded year: 1996
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 67
• LinkedIn: index-ventures

Index Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 1996, based in London, England. The firm invests in innovative startups across various sectors, including technology and healthcare, but has also made significant strides in the mobile gaming industry. Notable transactions include a $130 million investment in Supercell, a leading mobile game developer, and a $43 million investment in King.com, known for its popular mobile games. Additionally, Index Ventures led a $4 million funding round for Supersolid, a mobile games developer, to help expand their team and enhance their gaming experiences. These investments highlight Index Ventures' commitment to supporting the growth of mobile gaming companies and their strategic focus on building long-term partnerships with founders in this sector.

4. Bpifrance French Tech Accélération

• Website: bpifrance.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Paris, Île-De-France, France
• Founded year: 2015
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 198
• LinkedIn: bpifrance-french-tech-acc%c3%a9l%c3%a9ration

Bpifrance French Tech Accélération is a venture capital investor based in Paris, Île-De-France, France, founded in 2015. As a public entity and financial institution, Bpifrance supports entrepreneurs and businesses in France and internationally through various services, including direct funding, export credit insurance, and private equity investments. They aim to foster entrepreneurship and innovation through coaching and partnerships, helping businesses navigate growth and international expansion. Notably, Bpifrance has been involved in several transactions within the mobile gaming sector, including a $99.8 million investment in Homa Games during their Series B round, a $7 million investment in Dogami during their seed round, and a $4.9 million investment in Gamestream. These investments highlight Bpifrance's active role in the mobile gaming industry, making them a relevant player in this space.

5. Sisu Game Ventures

• Website: sisu.vc
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland
• Founded year: 2014
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 2
• LinkedIn: sisu-game-ventures

Sisu Game Ventures is a venture capital fund based in Helsinki, Finland, founded in 2014. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in the gaming industry, providing not only funding but also strategic support and industry connections to game developers and startups. They aim to help these companies navigate the challenges of building successful gaming ventures. Notably, Sisu Game Ventures has participated in several significant funding rounds for mobile gaming companies. For instance, they were involved in the $4.7 million funding for Superplus Games, a Finnish mobile studio focused on casual PvP titles, and contributed to Dazzle Rocks' $6.8 million funding for its mobile MMO game. Additionally, they have supported Resolution Games in multiple funding rounds, including a $25 million Series C round aimed at enhancing game quality and expanding intellectual property. Their focus on fostering innovation and collaboration within the gaming sector positions them as a key player in the mobile gaming investment landscape.

6. Initial Capital

• Website: initialcapital.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
• Founded year: 2010
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 2
• LinkedIn: initial-capital

Initial Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2010. The firm specializes in seed and early-stage investments, particularly within the technology sector, with a notable focus on the Bitcoin ecosystem. However, Initial Capital has also made significant investments in the mobile gaming industry, participating in funding rounds for prominent companies such as Supercell, which raised $12 million in a Series A round in 2011 and $1,032,267 in a seed round in 2010. Additionally, Initial Capital invested in Supersolid, a mobile gaming company founded by ex-Playfish employees, and in Space Ape Games, which raised $7 million in a Series C round in 2014. These transactions highlight Initial Capital's active role in supporting the growth of mobile gaming companies, alongside its broader investment strategy.

7. Ubisoft

• Website: ubisoft.com
• Type: Corporate
• Headquarters: Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Île-De-France, France
• Founded year: 1986
• Headcount: 10001+
• LinkedIn: ubisoft

Ubisoft Entertainment SA, founded in 1986 and based in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, Île-De-France, France, is a leading video game publisher and developer known for its popular franchises such as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry. The company has made significant strides in the mobile gaming industry through strategic acquisitions. Notably, Ubisoft acquired a 70% stake in Green Panda Games, a Paris-based mobile publisher, to strengthen its position in the hyper-casual market. Additionally, the acquisition of Ketchapp allowed Ubisoft to become the fourth largest mobile game publisher globally by downloads, leveraging Ketchapp's expertise in mobile advertising and its successful portfolio of free-to-play games. Furthermore, Ubisoft's acquisition of 75% of Kolibri Games for approximately €118 million highlights its commitment to expanding its mobile gaming footprint. These transactions illustrate Ubisoft's active role in the mobile gaming sector, making it a relevant investor in this space.

8. ZBS Capital

• Website: zbs.capital
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
• Founded year: 2017
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 11
• LinkedIn: zbscapital

ZBS Capital is a venture capital firm based in Kyiv, Ukraine, founded in 2017. The firm specializes in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors, investing in and advising web 3.0 startups. ZBS Capital leverages its media expertise and extensive network to support innovative projects. Notably, ZBS Capital has participated in several funding rounds for mobile gaming-related projects, including GoFungibles, which aims to launch a global game and a cross-chain gamified marketplace, and ASPO World, which raised $2 million in a venture round. Additionally, they were involved in the funding of Continuum World, an upcoming NFT game that secured $2.1 million. These transactions highlight ZBS Capital's active role in the mobile gaming industry, particularly in projects that integrate blockchain technology.

9. Hiro Capital

• Website: hiro.capital
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
• Founded year: 2019
• Headcount: 1-10
• Number of deals in 2024: 5
• LinkedIn: hirocapital

Hiro Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2019. The firm specializes in investing in innovative companies within the gaming, esports, and technology sectors. They provide funding, strategic insights, and networking opportunities to help startups grow and succeed. Hiro Capital is particularly focused on building the future of games, digital sports, and metaverse technologies. Notably, they led a $15 million investment in three international video game studios, including Double Loop Games, which is developing a mobile puzzle hybrid game. They also participated in a $3.3 million seed funding round for Lightfox Games, a mobile games developer, aimed at launching their first product, Super Battle League. Additionally, they have invested in Telltale Games, which, while not exclusively mobile, contributes to the broader gaming landscape. Their active engagement in mobile gaming investments makes them a key player in this sector.

10. Stillfront

• Website: stillfront.com
• Type: Corporate
• Headquarters: Ödeshög, Östergötland, Sweden
• Founded year: 2010
• Headcount: 1001-5000
• LinkedIn: stillfront

Stillfront Group is a corporate investor based in Ödeshög, Östergötland, Sweden, founded in 2010. The company develops and publishes a diverse range of digital games, engaging nearly 50 million players monthly. Stillfront focuses on creating engaging gaming experiences across various genres, including strategy and simulation. The company has a global presence and collaborates with independent game studios to enhance its offerings. Notably, Stillfront has made several key acquisitions in the mobile gaming sector, including:1. **Moonfrog Labs**: Acquired for $90 million, this Indian mobile games developer enhances Stillfront's presence in the mobile gaming market.2. **Storm8**: Acquired for $300 million, Storm8 is a leading mobile mash-up game developer, further solidifying Stillfront's mobile gaming portfolio.3. **Nanobit**: Acquired for at least $100 million, this Croatia-based development studio specializes in mobile games, contributing to Stillfront's strategy of expanding its mobile game offerings.These acquisitions highlight Stillfront's strategic focus on the mobile gaming industry, making it a significant player in this market.

11. Mtg

• Website: mtg.com
• Type: Corporate
• Headquarters: Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
• Founded year: 1987
• Headcount: 11-50
• Number of deals in 2024: 1
• LinkedIn: mtg

Modern Times Group (MTG) is a gaming and entertainment company based in Stockholm, Sweden, founded in 1987. The company operates a portfolio of gaming studios that develop and publish a wide range of mobile and browser games, focusing on engaging gaming experiences for consumers worldwide. MTG has made notable investments in the mobile gaming sector, including the acquisition of Plarium, the developer of the popular mobile RPG RAID: Shadow Legends, for USD 620 million, which enhances MTG's portfolio and growth strategy. Additionally, MTG acquired InnoGames, a company known for its browser games that is expanding into mobile gaming. MTG has also invested in mobile gaming studios like Sviper, which raised $2.8 million in funding led by MTG, and participated in a seed round for Joyride Games, which focuses on blockchain-based gaming projects. These transactions highlight MTG's active role in the mobile gaming industry and its commitment to innovation and user engagement.

12. Balderton Capital

• Website: balderton.com
• Type: Venture Capital
• Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom (UK)
• Founded year: 2000
• Headcount: 51-200
• Number of deals in 2024: 25
• LinkedIn: balderton-capital_2

Balderton Capital is a venture capital firm based in London, England, founded in 2000. The firm specializes in investing in European-founded technology companies, providing not only financial backing but also support programs aimed at enhancing founder wellbeing and performance. Balderton has a strong track record in the mobile gaming sector, having participated in funding rounds for notable companies such as Wooga, a social game developer that raised $24 million in Series B and $7.5 million in Series A, and Dream Games, which raised $50 million in Series A, $155 million in Series B, and $255 million in Series C. These investments highlight Balderton's active role in supporting the growth of mobile gaming startups.

Mobile Gaming Insights: Key Investors in Europe

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