What NODWIN Gaming does

NODWIN Gaming Private Limited is a global youth gaming, esports, and entertainment company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Gurugram, India, with international subsidiaries in Singapore, Dubai, Istanbul, Berlin, and Kyiv. The company operates a portfolio of owned and managed entertainment IPs spanning esports tournaments (BGMS, VALORANT Challengers South Asia, PUBG Mobile events, OMEN VALORANT), pop culture festivals (Comic Con India across 11 cities), music festivals (NH7 Weekender), gaming festivals (DreamHack India), B2B conferences (Gaming Matters, All That Matters, CreatorWeek), and reality programming (Playground with Banijay Asia). Through its wholly-owned subsidiaries Trinity Gaming (1,000+ creator MCN and Meta Creator Service Provider), AFK Gaming (esports media and Max Level agency), StarLadder (Ukrainian tournament operator with two decades of Dota 2 and CS:GO Major production experience), Freaks 4U Gaming (German gaming agency), Publishme/Ninja Global (MENA and Turkey), Branded (Singapore live media), and Comic Con India, NODWIN provides game publishers, endemic and non-endemic brands, and government bodies with end-to-end tournament operations, broadcast production, creator talent management, and live event execution across South Asia, the Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia, and Europe.

The company monetizes through six principal revenue streams: tournament sponsorships and prize pools (transaction fees from publishers and title sponsors such as OnePlus, Android, and TVS), brand partnerships and activations (advertising revenue from endemic and non-endemic advertisers including Tesla, Red Bull, Swiggy, and Duolingo targeting Gen Z audiences), live event ticketing through District by Zomato and Insider.in, media rights and broadcast licensing to television (Star Sports Khel) and OTT platforms (Sony LIV, JioHotstar), creator and influencer services via Trinity Gaming, and gaming marketing agency services from Publishme, Freaks 4U Gaming, and Ninja Global. Underlying operational capabilities include proprietary tournament management and broadcasting infrastructure, multi-platform content distribution, and the only nationally televised esports broadcast in India for three consecutive years. Revenue is generated through enterprise field sales for sponsorship deals, event-driven GTM via owned IPs, and channel partnerships with broadcast and ticketing platforms.

In FY26 NODWIN projected revenue of INR 658 crore (approximately $73-78 million) with positive EBITDA of INR 21 crore, compared to INR 524 crore in FY25 and a CAGR exceeding 50% since 2018. Esports now accounts for only 35% of revenue while events, owned IPs, and experiential businesses contribute the remaining 65%. NODWIN is preparing for a potential IPO within two years, having deconsolidated from Nazara Technologies in August 2025, initiated a pre-IPO fundraising round reportedly led by UBS targeting over $100 million, and reappointed Sidharth Kedia as Chief Strategy and Investments Officer to drive the listing process.

Name

NODWIN Gaming

Legal name

NODWIN Gaming Private Limited

Website

https://nodwingaming.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

NODWIN Gaming is a global youth entertainment company operating esports tournaments (BGMS, VALORANT Challengers), pop culture festivals (Comic Con India across 11 cities), music festivals, and creator economy services, serving global game publishers, enterprise brands, and Gen Z consumers across South Asia, the Middle East, Turkey, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Esports & Youth Entertainment Services

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Esports & Creator Sponsorship/Brand Partnerships (Influencer Marketing for Gaming) (MPAFAEAE)

Keywords

• Esports tournament operations
• Youth entertainment events
• Brand activation services
• Gaming marketing agency
• Esports media rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Gurugram

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tournament Sponsorships and Prize Pools: Revenue from organizing esports tournaments (BGMS, PUBG Mobile events, VALORANT Challengers, Omen Valorant) funded by title sponsors (OnePlus, Android, etc.) and participation fees, with prize pool distributions to competing teams and players.
2. Brand Partnerships and Activations: Sponsorship revenue from endemic gaming brands and non-endemic advertisers seeking youth audiences, including brand activations at live events, hospitality, and experiential marketing. Brands include Tesla, TVS Motor, Red Bull, Swiggy, Duolingo English Test, Bisleri.
3. Live Event Ticketing: Ticket sales for Comic Con India (11 cities), NH7 Weekender music festival, DreamHack India, and esports LAN finals. Ticketing partners include District by Zomato and Insider.in. Comic Con India alone draws over 52,000 attendees in major cities.
4. Media Rights and Broadcast: Broadcast rights sales for esports events to television (Star Sports Khel) and OTT platforms (Sony LIV, JioHotstar). Exclusive Hindi-language media rights for Esports World Cup 2025 sold to Sony LIV. Revenue from content production for publishers and platforms.
5. Creator and Influencer Services: Trinity Gaming manages 1,000+ gaming creators, generating revenue through brand collaborations, influencer marketing campaigns, and talent management fees. AFK Gaming's Max Level agency provides bespoke marketing services to brands seeking gaming audiences.
6. Gaming Marketing Agency Services: Publishme (renamed NODWIN Gaming in West Asia), Freaks 4U Gaming (Germany), and Ninja Global (Turkey) provide game launch plans, social media management, sponsorship activations, community management, and esports marketing consultancy to game publishers and brands.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NODWIN Gaming organizes and operates esports tournaments (BGMS, VALORANT Challengers South Asia, PUBG Mobile events), produces live youth entertainment festivals (Comic Con India in 11 cities, NH7 Weekender, DreamHack India), and sells sponsorship, brand activation, broadcast rights, ticketing, and creator/influencer marketing services to game publishers, endemic brands, and non-endemic advertisers across South Asia, MENA, Turkey, Germany, and Singapore. The company also runs gaming marketing agency services through subsidiaries including Freaks 4U Gaming, Trinity Gaming, AFK Gaming, and Publishme.

Product overview

NODWIN Gaming is a global new-age youth entertainment company operating as a platform of integrated products and services. The company builds and monetizes intellectual properties across esports, gaming, pop culture, music, comedy, and live experiences. Its portfolio includes esports tournaments and leagues (BGMS, VALORANT Challengers, PUBG Mobile events), entertainment festivals (Comic Con India, NH7 Weekender, DreamHack India), B2B conferences (Gaming Matters, All That Matters), reality shows (Playground), creator economy services (Trinity Gaming, AFK Gaming), and global esports media operations. The company operates across South Asia, Singapore, the Middle East, Turkey, Central Asia, and Germany through a combination of owned IPs and acquired subsidiaries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Esports Tournaments & Leagues Organizes and operates esports tournaments and leagues including BGMI Masters Series (BGMS), VALORANT Challengers South Asia, PUBG Mobile tournaments, OMEN VALORANT Challengers, and other competitive gaming events across mobile and PC titles for game publishers and brands.
• Comic Con India India's premier pop culture celebration featuring comics, cosplay, anime, gaming, movies, and geek culture, hosting events across 11 cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Jaipur, Guwahati, and Gurugram for consumers and brand sponsors.
• NH7 Weekender India's longest-running multi-genre music festival acquired from OML Entertainment in 2021, featuring music, comedy, and cultural experiences across multiple cities annually.
• DreamHack India India's largest gaming festival combining esports tournaments, gaming exhibitions, cosplay contests, and interactive experiences, now in its sixth year as the Indian edition of the global DreamHack brand.
• Playground Gaming Reality Show NODWIN's flagship gaming reality show that has redefined the intersection of gaming, entertainment, and influencer culture, produced in partnership with Banijay Asia for broader content scaling.
• Gaming Matters Conference B2B conference and networking event exploring the transformative power of gaming, hosted by Branded in Dubai, bringing together industry leaders in the gaming and esports ecosystem.
• All That Matters Conference Asia's premier conference and connections hub featuring Music Matters, Sports Matters, Gaming Matters, Marketing Matters, Arts Matters, Live Matters, and Learning Matters, acquired through the Branded acquisition.
• Trinity Gaming Creator Network India's leading gaming agency and creator service platform, Creator Service Provider for Meta and the only Gaming MCN for YouTube in India, managing over 1,000 gaming creators with brand partnership capabilities for advertisers.
• AFK Gaming Media & Max Level Agency Esports media company providing gaming industry updates through its website and Pixel P&L newsletter; agency vertical Max Level offers bespoke marketing services to teams, tournament organizers, publishers, and brands.
• Freaks 4U Gaming Agency Germany-based global full-service gaming and esports agency offering strategic brand and marketing consultancy, social media management, editorial services, event management, logistics, creative services, and broadcast production for game publishers and brands.
• Publishme (NODWIN MENA / Turkey) Game marketing agency operating in Turkey and UAE providing game launch plans, social media management, sponsorship activations, and esports marketing consultancy for game publishers.
• StarLadder Esports Tournament Operations Ukrainian esports tournament operator hosting international tournaments for Dota 2, PUBG, and HearthStone, with two decades of esports production expertise including CS:GO and Dota 2 Major events.
• It's A Girl Thing Festival Award-winning festival celebrating and empowering women, produced by Branded with ticketing partner District by Zomato, featuring entertainment and content creators.
• Esports Media Rights & Broadcast Distribution Sells broadcast rights for esports events to television (Star Sports Khel) and OTT platforms (Sony LIV, JioHotstar), including exclusive Hindi-language media rights for the Esports World Cup 2025, plus media rights distribution partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation across South Asia.
• CreatorWeek Conference Award-winning live media platform conference focusing on the creator economy, hosted through Branded's event ecosystem.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue grew 25% to INR 658 crore in FY26, from INR 524 crore in FY25, with EBITDA turning positive at INR 21 crore (vs loss of INR 14 crore in FY25).
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Exceed EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 November 2025Strategic partnership with Exceed Entertainment to lead sponsorship-led monetization for NH7 Weekender music festival. Exceed focuses on sponsorship sales, brand partnerships, and commercial expansion while NODWIN continues to lead festival programming, creative direction, production, and long-term vision.
• Chess.com and ChessBase IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Landmark partnership to build the future of chess esports in India. NODWIN Gaming brings production, broadcast, and commercial strategy; Chess.com contributes its platform of 200+ million users; ChessBase India offers grassroots community networks. The collaboration aims to create original IPs, premium competitive formats, and brand partnership opportunities in chess esports.
• SARC GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Strategic partnership aimed at accelerating esports growth in India through tournament promotion, monetizing NODWIN Gaming's IPs via sponsorships, and advocating esports-friendly policies with government stakeholders. SARC Global leverages policy advocacy, investment facilitation, and cross-border partnerships.
• District by ZomatocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2025Exclusive ticketing partnership renewed for second consecutive year across NODWIN Gaming's key IPs: Comic Con India (11 cities), NH7 Weekender, and DreamHack India. District by Zomato serves as the going-out platform offering seamless ticket discovery and booking for NODWIN's cultural events.
• Sony LIVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2025Sony LIV acquired exclusive Hindi-language broadcast rights for the Esports World Cup 2025 from NODWIN Gaming. Coverage includes Chess in Hindi from July 24, BGMI esports from July 25, and Tekken in English from August 13. Sony LIV also streams English-language weekly shows and highlight content.
• Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Strategic partnership for NODWIN Gaming to manage media rights sales and distribution strategies for the Esports World Cup across South Asia including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and surrounding territories. NODWIN also acts as EWCF's marketing partner for India, conceptualizing and executing local campaigns. 2025 EWC features a record-breaking $70.45 million prize pool.
• Tencent GamescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Long-standing partnership for PUBG Mobile esports including PUBG Mobile National Championship Uzbekistan, PUBG Mobile Global Open 2024 in Brazil, and BGMI Masters Series. Tencent signed a three-year MoU with Services Export Promotion Council and GDAI with over $1.04 million commitment to develop India's gaming and talent ecosystem.
• RTS (EVO)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025NODWIN Gaming sold its entire stake in Evolution Championship Series (EVO) to RTS in February 2026, exiting as joint owner following Saudi Qiddiya City's full acquisition. NODWIN continues supporting EVO's expansion in emerging markets as a regional partner, contributing operational expertise and community relationships.
• Tencent Games and Krafton InccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025EVO co-ownership realignment: Sony sold its EVO stake to NODWIN Gaming alongside existing shareholder RTS, with Qiddiya investing in RTS. NODWIN became co-owner alongside RTS, holding stake until February 2026 when it was sold to RTS.
• Comic Con India and Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Comic Con India signed MoU with IICT to advance talent development in AVGC-XR sector. Partnership includes student engagement at Comic Con events, masterclasses, hackathons, design jams, internships, and initiatives to grow India's grassroots creator ecosystem with focus on youth, fan art, and indie content.
• Banijay AsiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025Strategic partnership to revolutionize esports, gaming, and youth entertainment in India. Banijay Asia will produce NODWIN's flagship gaming reality show 'Playground' and co-develop new scripted and captive reality shows. Both companies co-developing new intellectual properties across gaming, esports, and youth culture.
• TeslaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Historic collaboration at BGMS Season 4 Grand Finals where Tesla showcased Model Y as the company's first-ever collaboration with an Indian esports tournament. Tesla Light Show featured at the event. Both companies share forward-looking identities of innovation and technology leadership targeting youth audiences.
• StarLaddercoreTechnology or Integration · 31 January 2025Acquired 100% of StarLadder share capital for initial consideration of $5.5 million ($2 million cash + $3.5 million NODWIN Gaming equity swap). StarLadder is a Ukrainian tournament operator hosting international Dota 2, PUBG, and HearthStone tournaments, bringing two decades of esports production expertise.
• Insider.inminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 August 2024Multi-year strategic partnership making Insider.in the official ticketing partner for DreamHack, NH7 Weekender, and Comic Con India. Platform established presence across 300+ cities and plays a role in facilitating long-term synergistic brand partnerships.
• OnePluscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2024Title Sponsor and Official Smartphone Partner of BGMS Season 4, returning for a second consecutive year. Also powers OnePlus Campus Dominate collegiate esports initiative bringing tournaments to college students across India.
• Android (Google)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2024Co-Title Sponsor of BGMS Season 4 for the second consecutive year, deepening engagements with India's gaming community.
• TVS Motor CompanycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2024Official Mobility Partner for third consecutive year, powering TVS Raider Wicked Battles grassroots esports qualifier feeding into BGMS Challenger Series. Reinforces sustained commitment to gaming and digital youth culture.
• Global Esports Federation (GEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Appointed as Portfolio Management Company (PMC) to develop and promote GEF-licensed esports events in over 20 countries including India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Dubai, Bahrain, Jordan, Thailand, Vietnam, and the entire African continent. Non-exclusive rights to host events globally.
• JSW SportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Strategic partnership to monetize and market NODWIN's gaming, esports, and cultural IPs. JSW Sports brings commercial expertise and sports management experience to complement NODWIN's esports operations and content creation. Focused on launching new esports-focused IPs and creating brand partnership platforms.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights9 records

Direct peers

• Galaxy Racer: Dubai-based esports and content organization operating across MENA and South Asia; comparable geographic footprint to NODWIN's emerging-market focus and similar mix of team ownership, creator management, and tournament organization.
• Nazara Technologies: BSE-listed Indian mobile gaming and sports media company; NODWIN's former parent and largest shareholder, operating in adjacent and overlapping categories (mobile gaming publishing, esports, ad-tech) and therefore the most direct Indian-market peer.
• GameSquare Esports: Nasdaq-listed esports and gaming media company (formerly Engine Gaming) operating teams, content, and creator services; comparable to NODWIN's diversified esports-media model including sponsorships, content, and creator partnerships.
• Allied Esports: Esports entertainment company operating the HyperX Arena Las Vegas and live-event content; comparable to NODWIN's venue-based and live-entertainment model anchored around gaming IPs.
• ESL FACEIT Group: Largest global esports tournament and competition platform operator (ESL Pro League, FACEIT, DreamHack); competes with NODWIN in tournament organization, broadcast production, and publisher services across emerging and developed markets.
• ReedPop: Global pop-culture events business operating New York Comic Con, MCM Comic Con, and PAX; directly comparable to NODWIN's Comic Con India franchise and pop-culture festival IP portfolio.
• OverActive Media: Toronto-listed global esports and entertainment company operating the Overwatch League's Toronto Defiant and live-event venues; comparable to NODWIN as a publicly-monitored esports and live-entertainment platform pursuing venue/IP monetization.
• DreamHack: Global gaming festival and LAN-event brand operated by ESL FACEIT Group; NODWIN runs DreamHack India under license, making it a direct counterpart for NODWIN's gaming-festival IP and youth-entertainment positioning.
• Ampverse: Bangkok-based esports and content company with operations across Southeast Asia; comparable to NODWIN in tournament organization, team ownership, and creator monetization in emerging Asian markets.

Broad incumbents

• Riot Games: Major game publisher that also operates its own esports leagues (League of Legends, VALORANT Challengers); both a key customer/partner and broad-incumbent competitor to NODWIN in tournament production and broadcast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NodwinGaming
• Facebookfacebook.com/NODWINGaming
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nodwin_gaming

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A12 records

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NODWIN Gaming