WinZO
| File:Winzo logo.png | |
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Online gaming |
| Founded 📆 | 19 October 2016 |
| Founder 👔 | Paavan Nanda, Saumya Singh Rathore |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | , New Delhi , India |
Area served 🗺️ | |
Key people | Paavan Nanda (CEO, Co-founder) Saumya Singh Rathore (Co-founder) |
| Products 📟 | Real-money gaming platform, casual games |
| Revenue🤑 | ₹1,055 crore (FY2024)[1] |
| ₹315 crore (FY2024)[1] | |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | www |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
WinZO is an Indian mobile-based real-money gaming platform operated by TicTok Skill Games Pvt Ltd. Founded in 2016 by Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, WinZO hosts over 100 multiplayer skill-based games across multiple genres including casual, card, esports, fantasy sports, and puzzle formats.[2]
History
WinZO was incorporated as WinZO Games Pvt Ltd on 19 October 2016, later renamed to TicTok Skill Games Pvt Ltd.[3] The company was co-founded by Paavan Nanda, previously co-founder of ZO Rooms and Zostel, and Saumya Singh Rathore, formerly with The Times Group.[4]
Platform
WinZO offers its games in more than 12 regional Indian languages including Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, and Bhojpuri, focusing on users from Tier 2–5 cities.[5] The platform supports games in various formats and integrates third-party titles through its developer console launched in January 2020.[6]
As of mid-2024, the platform reported over 200 million registered users and facilitated more than 5 billion gameplay sessions per month.[7]
Funding
WinZO has raised over $90 million across several rounds of funding:
- In July 2019, it raised $5 million in a Series A round led by Kalaari Capital and Hike.[8]
- In September 2020, the company raised $18 million in a Series B round led by Makers Fund and Courtside Ventures.[9]
- In July 2021, WinZO raised $65 million in a Series C round led by Griffin Gaming Partners.[5]
Partnerships
WinZO entered a partnership with Tencent Games India in March 2020 to launch local-language PUBG Mobile esports tournaments.[10] The company also collaborated with Nextwave Multimedia to bring the World Cricket Championship to its platform.
Legal and Regulatory
Dispute with Google Play Store Policies
In September 2022, WinZO filed a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against Google, alleging anti-competitive conduct over Play Store policies that excluded many real-money games from the platform.[11] This led to a formal CCI investigation in 2024 into Google's policies regarding gaming apps.[12]
Dispute with Hike
In 2024, WinZO initiated legal proceedings under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 in the Delhi High Court, seeking arbitration against Hike Private Limited (Singapore). WinZO alleged that Hike, after divesting its stake, launched a rival gaming app called Rush in November 2020 that replicated core features, algorithms, and match-making mechanisms from WinZO. The company also claimed that Hike had misused confidential business information and engaged in employee solicitation.[13][14]
On 27 May 2024, the court directed both parties to resolve the matter through arbitration under the Delhi International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), ordered submission of the Rush and WinZO source codes as sealed evidence, and appointed retired Supreme Court Justice Gautam S. Patel as the arbitrator.[15][16]
Impact of GST Regulation
In 2023, the GST Council imposed a 28 % Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the total amount deposited by users on online gaming platforms, replacing the previous 18 % tax applied only to platform fees.[17] WinZO co-founder Paavan Nanda said the change would increase costs, slow the company's growth (from ~200 % to ~70 % annual), and reduce competitiveness against offshore platforms.[18]
A report by EY-USISPF indicated that over half of online gaming firms saw revenue stagnate or fall after the tax change.[19] WinZO reported that the full impact of the tax would only be reflected in FY 2025 and noted its effects to be partly visible in the preceding financial results.[20]
Financial Performance
As reported by Mint, WinZO recorded revenues of ₹1,055 crore (~$130 million) in FY 2023–24 and a net profit of ₹315 crore (~$39 million), marking its first full year of profitability.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Online gaming startup Winzo reports 70% jump in FY24 revenue amid regulatory headwinds". The Economic Times. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "How WinZO Is Building India's Largest Vernacular Gaming Platform". Inc42. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "TicTok Skill Games Private Limited". Zauba Corp. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "Forbes India 30 Under 30 2022: Saumya Singh Rathore". Forbes India. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "India's WinZO raises $65M to build a gaming platform for the next 200M users". TechCrunch. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO Launches $5 Million Game Developer Fund". Inc42. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Real-money gaming app WinZO reports ₹1,055 crore revenue, profit in FY24". Mint. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO raises $5M to expand mobile gaming in India". TechCrunch. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO raises $18 million in Series B". The Economic Times. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO, Tencent Partner For Regional PUBG Esports". Inc42. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "India gaming firm WinZO files antitrust case against Google". Reuters. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "India's Competition Watchdog Probes Google on Game Store Dispute". Bloomberg. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO And Hike's Court Battle Over IP Rights Violation Heats Up". Inc42. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO vs Hike Singapore: Landmark Arbitration Judgment by Delhi High Court". NewsLaw. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO And Hike's Court Battle Over IP Rights Violation Heats Up". Inc42. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZO vs Hike Singapore: Landmark Arbitration Judgment by Delhi High Court". NewsLaw. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "India deals blow to online gaming industry with 28% tax". Reuters. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "WinZo flags GST concerns as growth rate takes a hit". Financial Express. 1 May 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "Over 50% gaming cos saw revenue stagnate or dip after 28% GST norm: report". Business Standard. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ↑ "Online gaming startup Winzo reports 70% jump in FY24 revenue amid regulatory headwinds". The Economic Times. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
External links
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