Sony Innovation Fund invests in gaming community app Stan

Stan product

Sony Innovation Fund, the corporate venture capital arm of Sony Group Corporation, has backed mobile-first gaming community platform Stan along with Hyderabad Angels Fund, taking the startup’s Series A round to $10.5 million.

In July, Stan said it had raised $8.5 million from Google’s AI Futures Fund and Japanese gaming companies Bandai Namco Entertainment and Square Enix. Japanese technology firm Reazon Holdings also joined the round, along with existing investors Nazara Technologies, General Catalyst, Aptos Labs, GFR Fund, T-Accelerate Capital and Pix Capital.

The company plans to use the fresh capital to drive artificial intelligence (AI)-led personalisation, creator monetisation tools, and deeper publisher integrations, while accelerating its expansion into other mobile-first markets.

“We believe the future of gaming goes beyond compelling titles and advanced gameplay. It lies in building dynamic ecosystems where creators, gamers, and developers come together to shape shared worlds. Stan embodies this vision of building an inclusive gaming community, and we’re excited to support their efforts to create a social layer for the next generation of gamers.” said Kazuhito Hadano, Chief Executive Officer of Sony Ventures Corporation.

Stan was founded in 2022 by Parth Chadha, Rahul Singh, Nauman Mulla, and Shubham Gupta, who later quit the company in April 2024. The company enables gamers and creators to build and monеtisе communitiеs through shoutouts, subscriptions, and brand-led activations.

The platform also offers tools for live audio, creator clubs and live game integrations among others. For publishers, Stan offers native distribution powered by creator engagement.

Users can engage in Stan clubs, participate in tournaments, and win rewards. One can engage with their favourite gaming creators or celebrities through clubs and audio rooms.

Stan claims to have more than 30 million downloads and over 1 million creators on the platform and hopes to scale up to 50 million users by next year.

“We see that participation of Sony Innovation Fund to Stan reinforces our belief in the strength of our vision and India’s pivotal role in the global gaming landscape. Together with our investors, we aim to build the most creator-empowering, mobile-first platform that redefines how gaming communities connect and thrive,” said Stan co-founder Parth Chadha.

The startup had reported an annual turnover of around $7.87 million for the financial year 2025 (FY25), a significant jump from $1.71 million in FY24.

“We believe India is at the cusp of a massive transformation in gaming and digital communities. Stan’s unique ability to merge social experiences with creator monetisation positions it as a global category-defining company,” said Kalyan Sivalenka, Managing Partner at Hyderabad Angels Fund.