جوجل تستثمر في منصة الألعاب الاجتماعية الهندية ستان لتعزيز تجربة اللاعبين والمنشئين

Google has invested in STAN, an Indian-origin social gaming platform based in Singapore, as part of an $8.5 million funding round. The round also included participation from Japanese gaming giants Bandai Namco Entertainment, Square Enix, and Reazon Holdings, alongside Aptos Labs, King River Capital, and existing investors General Catalyst and GFR Fund. Google’s contribution came through its AI Futures Fund, launched in May to support startups leveraging its AI technologies. STAN positions itself as a gaming community platform aiming to rival Discord, but with a unique monetization model centered on user engagement. The app allows users to earn in-app currency called “Gems” by playing popular games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India, Free Fire Max, Minecraft, Call of Duty, and casual titles like Ludo and Snakes & Ladders. Users can also earn Gems through referrals, daily rewards, and a spin-to-win wheel. A key differentiator is the ability to redeem Gems for real-world value—such as vouchers on Amazon, Flipkart, and PhonePe—creating tangible incentives for participation. The platform hosts creator-led chat spaces called “Clubs,” tailored to specific games, where users pay in Gems to access exclusive gaming experiences. STAN takes a commission on these transactions, forming a core revenue stream. The platform has achieved significant traction, with over 25 million downloads across Google Play and Apple App Store, and around 5.5 million monthly active users. Co-founder and CEO Parth Chadha attributes this growth to the shift last year toward enabling user-generated content, allowing anyone to stream live, which boosted engagement and downloads. STAN also partners with major game publishers like Krafton, Garena, and Roblox, who pay to connect with gamers and creators on the platform. In the past two quarters, nearly 100 new publishers have joined, with over 20 joining monthly—a growing business line, according to Chadha. With Google’s backing, STAN plans to enhance its AI-driven moderation, currently handling 70%–80% of content checks automatically. The goal is to further reduce reliance on human moderators. The company is also developing AI-powered tools for creators, including avatar generation, meme creation, and smart chat filters. Though currently restricted to India, STAN sees 5%–6% of its engagement from international users, often accessing via Indian accounts. The company plans to expand regionally, starting with the Indian subcontinent, then moving to Southeast Asia and Latin America. Despite being profitable for a short period, STAN is reinvesting in growth and aims to achieve profitability by 2027. The startup employs around 40 people, with under 30 in product engineering. With this latest round, STAN’s total equity funding reaches approximately $15 million. Google has invested over $5.5 billion in India since 2018, supporting startups like STAN, Toonsutra, Pixxel, and Adda 24X7, reinforcing its strategic focus on India’s tech ecosystem.