WinZO
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online gaming, Interactive Entertainment |
| Founded | February 2018 |
| Founders | Paavan Nanda, Saumya Singh Rathore |
| Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
Key people | Paavan Nanda (CEO), Saumya Singh Rathore (Co-founder) |
| Services | Mobile e-sports gaming platform, real-money skill-based games |
| Revenue | ₹1055.22 crore (FY24) |
| ₹315.12 crore (FY24) | |
Number of employees | 200+ (2023) |
| Website | www |
WinZO is an Indian online gaming and interactive entertainment platform headquartered in New Delhi. Founded in 2018 by Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, it offers over 100 skill-based games, including carrom, cricket, and fantasy leagues, in 16 regional languages. Targeting primarily Tier II–IV cities, WinZO facilitates over 2.5 billion micro-transactions monthly and has a user base of 250 million as of 2024. The platform partners with third-party developers globally and supports real-money gaming with monetary rewards. WinZO has raised $92 million in funding and reported a 70.4% revenue increase to ₹1055.22 crore in FY24.[1]
Founders & Leadership
- Paavan Nanda (CEO and Co-founder): An alumnus of Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Nanda previously worked at Bain & Company, Abbott Laboratories, and Merrill Lynch. He co-founded Zostel, a hospitality startup backed by Tiger Global Management, before launching WinZO. Nanda leads strategy and operations.[2]
- Saumya Singh Rathore (Co-founder): Holding a master’s degree in psychology, Rathore worked at KPMG and The Times Group. She co-founded Zostel with Nanda. At WinZO, she oversees partnerships and developer relations.[3]
Origin & Founding Story
WinZO was founded in February 2018 by Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, who previously collaborated on Zostel, a backpacker hostel chain. Inspired by the growing mobile gaming market in India, projected to reach $1 billion by 2021, they aimed to create a vernacular gaming platform for Tier II–IV cities. The name "WinZO" derives from "ZO," symbolising speed and energy from their Zostel venture. The platform launched with a focus on skill-based, real-money games in regional languages, partnering with global developers to offer a culturally relevant experience.[4]
Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2018 | WinZO founded by Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore in New Delhi. |
| 2019 | Raised $5 million in Series A funding led by Kalaari Capital. Won Startup of the Year - Technology by Entrepreneur India.[5] |
| 2020 | Raised $18 million in Series B funding led by Makers Fund and Courtside Ventures.[6] |
| 2021 | Raised $65 million in Series C funding led by Griffin Gaming Partners. Valued at ₹2730 crore.[7] |
| 2022 | Launched $50 million Game Developer Fund to invest in global startups.[8] |
| 2023 | Reported operating revenue of ₹674 crore in FY23, a 188% increase from FY22.[9] |
| 2024 | Partnered with Tata Memorial Hospital to establish India’s first gene counselling facility.[10] |
| 2025 | Reported 150.7% profit increase to ₹315.12 crore in FY24.[11] |
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Series A | $5 million | Kalaari Capital | - |
| September 2020 | Series B | $18 million | Makers Fund, Courtside Ventures | Kalaari Capital[12] |
| July 2021 | Series C | $65 million | Griffin Gaming Partners | -[13] |
| Total: $92 million over 7 rounds from 29 investors[14] | ||||
Business Model
WinZO operates a B2C real-money gaming platform, generating revenue through in-app purchases, advertising, commissions, and brand partnerships. It charges a commission on paid games and tournaments, retaining a portion of profits. Advertising is integrated non-intrusively, while sponsorships enable exclusive events. The platform targets Tier II–IV city users, offering games in 16 regional languages to enhance accessibility. WinZO partners with global developers, providing them 80% of revenue from day one, reducing their user acquisition costs. The WinZO Developer Console allows developers to submit games, with over 1,000 submissions globally.[15]
Products / Services
- WinZO App: A mobile platform hosting 100+ skill-based games, including carrom, cricket, bubble shooter, and fantasy leagues, available in 16 languages.
- WinZO Developer Console: A portal for developers to submit games, offering real-time analytics for performance monitoring.
- WinZO Store: Offers gaming coupons and third-party vouchers (e.g., Gaana, Nykaa).
- WinZO Versus: A community feature enabling player interaction and competition.[16]
Growth & Metrics
As of 2024, WinZO has 250 million registered users, with 30 million monthly active users, claiming 40% of India’s online gaming audience. FY24 revenue was ₹1055.22 crore, up 70.4% from ₹619.42 crore in FY23, with profit at ₹315.12 crore, a 150.7% increase. The platform supports over 2.5 billion monthly micro-transactions and operates in India and Brazil. Employee count exceeds 200, with costs rising to ₹54.81 crore in FY23. Average user session time is 55 minutes daily.[17][18]
Legal Entity Information
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | WinZO Games Private Limited |
| Foundation Date | 19 December 2016 |
| Registrar of Companies (ROC) | ROC Delhi |
| Corporate Identification Number (CIN) | U93090DL2016PTC307296 |
| Registered Address | Suite No. 006, Ground Floor, Copia Corporate Suites Building NO. 9, DDA District Centre Jasola , New Delhi, Delhi, India - 110025 |
| Email ID | accounts@winzogames.com |
| Company Status | Active |
| Directors | Paavan Nanda, Saumya Singh Rathore |
| Authorized Share Capital | ₹ 7,93,50,000.00 |
| Paid-up Capital | ₹ 6,03,56,660.00 |
Media & Public Recognition
- Awards: Startup of the Year - Technology by Entrepreneur India (2019), SutraHR’s Top 100 Startups in India (2020), Businessworld Techtors (2020).[20]
- Coverage: Featured in Inc42, YourStory, Business Standard, and Live Mint for funding, financials, and partnerships.[21]
- Partnerships: Collaborated with Tata Memorial Hospital (2025), DPIIT (2024), and ONDC (2024).[22]
FAQs
- What is WinZO?
- WinZO is an Indian online gaming platform offering skill-based, real-money games in 16 regional languages, targeting Tier II–IV cities.
- Who founded WinZO?
- Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore founded WinZO in 2018.
- How does WinZO make money?
- It earns through in-app purchases, commissions, advertising, and brand partnerships.
- What is WinZO’s user base?
- As of 2024, WinZO has 250 million registered users and 30 million monthly active users.
External Links
Related Startups
References
- ↑ Kawale, Ajinkya (30 April 2025). "Winzo FY24 Profit: The gaming platform's revenue from operations grew 70.35 per cent". Business Standard. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO Company Profile Funding & Investors". YourStory. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO - Crunchbase Company Profile & Funding". Crunchbase. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO: Revolutionizing Social Gaming with Innovation and Growth". StartupTalky. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO - Recent News & Activity". Crunchbase. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gaming startup WinZO raises $18 million in Series B funding". Live Mint. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "How Winzo Startup Became India's Fastest Growing Gaming-Platform?". The Digital Yug. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gaming Startup WinZO's FY23 Revenue Surges Nearly 3X To INR 674 Cr". Inc42. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO Business Model". StartupTalky. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
{{cite web}}: Text "How Winzo Makes Money" ignored (help) - ↑ "WinZO, Tata Memorial Hospital tie up to set-up India's first gene counselling facility". IndiaMedToday. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO reports 150% jump in FY24 profit buoyed by user base expansion". YourStory. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gaming startup WinZO raises US$ 18M in Series B funding". VCBay News. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Exclusive: WinZO Raises $18 Mn In Series B Round Led By Makers Fund, Courtside Ventures". Inc42. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO - 2025 Company Profile, Funding, Competitors & Financials". Tracxn. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO Business Model - How Winzo Makes Money". StartupTalky. 26 December 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO: Revolutionizing Social Gaming with Innovation and Growth". StartupTalky. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO reports 150% jump in FY24 profit buoyed by user base expansion". YourStory. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gaming Startup WinZO's FY23 Revenue Surges Nearly 3X To INR 674 Cr". Inc42. 26 April 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO - 2025 Company Profile, Funding, Competitors & Financials". Tracxn. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO: Revolutionizing Social Gaming with Innovation and Growth". StartupTalky. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Gaming startup WinZO raises $18 million in Series B funding". Live Mint. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "ONDC Partners WinZO Online Gaming Platform To Boost Digital Commerce in India". Latestly. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2025.