What Ventana Ventures does

Ventana Ventures is an India-based micro-VC fund focused exclusively on the gaming and interactive media sector, structured as Ventana Ventures and Advisors LLP and operating the SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund 'Ventana Ventures Trust' (Registration No. IN/AIF/22-23/1208). Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Udupi, Karnataka, the firm invests up to USD 130K per company at the pre-seed and seed stages, providing capital alongside template-based coaching, mentorship, and network access to help portfolio teams progress toward Pre-Series A or Series A. Its disclosed portfolio of five companies—Metashot, Brewed Games, SportVot, Norian Games, and Qila Games—spans mobile, PC, console, esports, and gaming technology enablers.

Revenue is generated via traditional fund management economics: management fees on committed AUM and carried interest on portfolio exits, though fund size, fee rates, and exits remain undisclosed. Go-to-market is network-driven rather than inbound scale: founders are sourced through industry events (IGDC, Bengaluru Tech Summit, KDEM-led platforms), incubator partnerships (Manipal, Nitte, Atal-BIMTECH), and direct referrals via a website pitch inbox ([email protected]). The four-person operating team—Founding GP Shylaja Rao, VP Operations Sudhir Anni, VP Investments & Finance Poornima Nayak, and Investment Analyst Shobana Prakash—positions the firm as a relationship-intensive specialist.

Operationally the firm has codified a five-stage support playbook (Treasure Hunt → Level-Up → Acceleration → Power Play → Grand Finale) covering founder scouting, evaluation, initial investment, follow-on preparation, and exit orientation. Portfolio companies have subsequently raised from KITVEN, Chimera VC, Sauce VC, Nazara, and WTFund, and Metashot appeared on Shark Tank India, providing third-party validation of the firm's deal sourcing without, however, disclosing realized returns or AUM growth.

Name

Ventana Ventures

Legal name

Ventana Ventures and Advisors LLP

Website

https://ventanaventures.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ventana Ventures is an India-based micro-VC fund that invests up to USD 130K per company in pre-seed and seed-stage gaming startups, serving founders across mobile, PC, console, esports, and gaming technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital / Micro-VC Fund Management

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (525990)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)

Keywords

• Venture capital funding
• Gaming startup investment
• Pre-seed funding
• Seed-stage investment
• Alternative investment fund

Headquarters

HQ city

Udupi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Fund Management: Ventana Ventures operates as a Category II AIF (SEBI registered IN/AIF/22-23/1208) generating returns through capital appreciation of portfolio companies via exits (IPO or M&A) and management fees from the fund. They invest up to USD 130K per startup at pre-seed/seed stage with the goal of helping companies secure Pre-series A or Series A funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ventana Ventures is a SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (Ventana Ventures Trust, IN/AIF/22-23/1208) that invests up to USD 130K per company in pre-seed and seed-stage gaming startups in India. Alongside capital, the firm provides mentorship, template-based coaching, and access to its gaming ecosystem network to help portfolio companies progress from prototype through beta testing to market launch and follow-on funding.

Product overview

Ventana Ventures is a micro VC gaming and interactive media investor offering early-stage funding (up to USD 130K per startup) to pre-seed and seed-stage gaming companies, along with expert mentorship, template-based coaching, and support through beta testing to market launch. Their portfolio of invested companies includes MetaShot (console-like cricket game with smart bat technology), Brewed Games (indie game studio), SportVot (grassroots sports digitization platform), Norian Games, and Qila Games—representing investments across mobile, PC, console, esports, and gaming technology enablers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ventana Ventures Trust (SEBI Category II AIF) A SEBI-registered Category II Alternative Investment Fund (Registration No. IN/AIF/22-23/1208, Scores ID AIF01179) that invests up to USD 130K per company in pre-seed and seed-stage Indian gaming startups, alongside mentorship, template-based coaching, and ecosystem network support through beta testing, launch, and follow-on funding stages. The fund is the standalone investable offering for limited partners and the delivery vehicle for portfolio company founders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Invest up to USD 130K in each participating team
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KDEM (Karnataka Digital Economy Mission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVentana actively participates in KDEM events including Technovanza, Mangaluru Blue, and other startup initiatives in Karnataka. KDEM helps connect startups with potential investors and Ventana uses these platforms for deal sourcing and ecosystem engagement.
• IGDC (India Game Developer Conference)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVentana actively participates in IGDC as speakers and panelists, including the Women In Games Panel at IGDC 2024. The conference is India's oldest and biggest game developer conference, used as a platform to engage with gaming founders and the broader gaming community.
• Manipal Incubation CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Manipal Universal Technology Business Incubator (MUTBI) for mentorship programs and deal sourcing. Ventana provides pitch deck sessions and guidance under this partnership.
• Nitte Incubation CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mentorship programs and startup sourcing in the Mangaluru region. Hands-on pitch deck sessions conducted under this partnership.
• Atal Incubation Centre-BIMTECHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Atal Incubation Centre at BIMTECH to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the gaming sector.
• AppleminorOthersVentana's GP Ms. Shylaja Rao participated in Apple's Women, Careers & Mentorship Panel at International Women's Day 2025, representing Ventana at this high-profile event.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chimera VC: Chimera VC is an emerging-markets-focused early-stage fund that led the USD 1M round into Ventana's portfolio company Qila Games. It is a relevant co-investor peer operating in the India gaming and consumer-tech seed landscape.
• WTFund: WTFund is an early-stage gaming-focused investor in India and is known to have backed Norian Games (a Ventana portfolio company). It is a direct peer sharing vertical specialization and the Indian gaming-ecosystem focus.
• Lumikai: Lumikai is India's first dedicated gaming and interactive media venture fund, investing in early-stage gaming startups. It is the most directly comparable peer to Ventana Ventures, sharing the same vertical specialization, India focus, and seed-stage investment thesis.

Emerging players

• Galaxy Interactive: Galaxy Interactive is a global interactive entertainment and gaming-focused investment firm. It represents an emerging global peer with thematic alignment in gaming VC, though currently with limited India-specific footprint.
• BITKRAFT Ventures: BITKRAFT Ventures is a global gaming-focused venture fund with growing India exposure. While internationally based, it increasingly invests in Indian gaming startups, making it an emerging global peer with thematic overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Anthill Ventures: Anthill Ventures is an early-stage investor and accelerator operating across consumer and tech sectors in India. It is a broader micro-VC peer competing for similar seed-stage deal flow and LP allocations within India.
• 100X.VC: 100X.VC is one of India's most active micro-VC funds, providing early-stage capital across sectors. While not gaming-focused, it competes for the same seed-stage founder mindshare and LP capital within the Indian micro-VC universe.
• YourNest Venture Capital: YourNest is an Indian early-stage VC fund investing in deep-tech and emerging sectors. As a comparable Indian micro-VC, it represents an indirect peer competing for institutional LP capital and seed-stage founders.
• Nazara Technologies: Nazara Technologies is a publicly listed Indian gaming company that also acts as a strategic investor in gaming startups (including backing Norian Games). As a strategic-investor peer, it represents both a competitor for gaming deals and a potential exit channel for Ventana's portfolio.

Regional players

• KITVEN Fund: KITVEN is a Karnataka state-backed early-stage VC that co-invested with Ventana in Metashot. While broader in sector mandate and larger in check size, it is a regional co-investor peer operating in the same Karnataka ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ventanaventure
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ventana-venture

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments3 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Ventana Ventures