Indian social gaming startup Matiks has raised $10 million in a Pre-Series A round led by General Catalyst, aiming for global expansion and new product innovation in puzzle and mind sports gaming.
- Raised $10 million Pre-Series A led by General Catalyst
- Plans include global expansion with initial focus on the US
- Developing an AI engine for no-code social game creation
What happened
Matiks, a Mumbai-based social gaming platform specializing in puzzle and mind sports games, announced a $10 million Pre-Series A funding round led by General Catalyst. Other investors participating included Ronnie Screwvala, upGrad’s founder, along with existing backers such as Info Edge Ventures, Tanglin Venture Partners, and Untitled Ventures. The startup launched in 2024 and has since attracted over 2.2 million players and recorded 48 million games played by September 2026.
The fresh capital will be allocated primarily towards expanding Matiks’ global footprint, focusing initially on the US market. Additionally, the funding will boost the team’s capabilities in engineering, AI, product design, and growth functions. A key strategic initiative is the development of an AI-powered engine that empowers users to create and publish their own social games without needing to write code, aiming to stimulate creator engagement and enrich player experiences.
Why it matters
This investment signals growing confidence in India’s gaming ecosystem, which is rapidly diversifying beyond traditional formats like battle royale titles and casual games. With a user base of 510 million gamers and evolving regulations limiting real-money gaming, social and mind-focused games represent a promising avenue for growth and innovation. Matiks’ focus on mind sports aims to elevate mental competition alongside physical and esports, offering new engagement models for players and creators.
The integration of AI-powered no-code tools could democratize game development on the platform, enabling a more vibrant creator community and accelerating content diversity. The funding also reflects a broader trend of increased investor interest in Indian gaming startups, evidenced by recent multi-million dollar rounds raised by studios such as Spill Games and LightFury Games, which are pushing the industry’s boundaries.
What to watch next
Matiks’ immediate priority will be scaling its presence in Tier 1 international markets, beginning with the US, followed by strategic expansions into other key gaming regions such as Japan and South Korea. How effectively Matiks can adapt its puzzle and social gaming offerings to these diverse markets will be critical to its success. Monitoring user growth and engagement metrics in these regions will provide indicators of international traction.
The development and rollout of the AI-powered game creation engine will be another important milestone. Its adoption by creators and the resulting influx of fresh, user-generated games could significantly shape Matiks’ platform dynamics. Investors and industry watchers should also keep an eye on future funding rounds and partnerships that enable Matiks to strengthen its technology stack, distribution channels, and community-building efforts in the increasingly competitive social gaming space.