The Game Changers

Founded by Delhi-based siblings Gaurav and Yashash Agarwal in 2015, Gamezop is a B2B2C gaming start-up that buys games from international companies, optimises it for developing markets and sells it to large companies. “All developers are creating apps and getting users to install it. Our strategy was to tap into networks that already have a reach so we can add value to it,” says Gaurav, who worked with Bain & Co before co-founding Gamezop. 

The USP of Gamezop’s games are that these are created on HTML5 technology, which allows it to be played on mobile browsers without the need to install apps on devices. Further, all games can be played offline after first usage. Currently, Gamezop has over 1.5 million daily users and has raised about $350,000 in seed funding from investors including Kwan and Powerhouse Ventures. 

From social messaging service Hike messenger to phone maker Xiaomi, Gamezop has inked 40 partnerships globally. They also work with browsers directly, like a UC Browser, Opera as well as travel apps like ixigo. “The inclusion of our games on Xiaomi’s browser not only saw a spike in monetisation (we have ads and revenue is shared with them) but also saw a lot of users coming back on the browser, thereby increasing engagement, retention and monetisation,” says Yashash. 

Early focus on monetisation and an asset-light model ensured that Gamezop is already a profitable company, claims Gaurav. Until now, Gamezop has optimised over 200 casual games across genres like arcade, puzzle, strategy, store experience. “We are able to deliver a game at about 20% of the size it originally existed,” says Gaurav. For the next phase of growth, the co-founders are looking at driving monetisation further, getting into game development, adding a social layer and making the experience more immersive for users.