Nazara Technologies Limited, a leading global gaming and sports media company has completed its majority stake acquisition of 51% in Paper Boat Apps by issuing Nazara shares worth INR 43 crores as part of its final tranche of the transaction. Paper Boat Apps are developers of the popular ‘Made in India’ app Kiddopia catering to young children in the age bracket of 2 to 7 years old.
This is Nazara’s second transaction in the year 2020 after undertaking a majority stake-holding in fantasy platform, Halaplay Technologies Pvt. Ltd. last month. This transaction is part of the INR 83 crore stake deal to acquire majority in Paper Boat Apps valuing the company in excess of INR 150 cr.
Since the initial funding, Kiddopia has seen over 300% growth in revenues and is now witnessing an annualized revenue run rate of over INR 175 crores.
Kiddopia was launched in 2017 by husband-wife duo, Anupam and Anshu Dhanuka. The app became an instant hit and has reached the #1 rank in the Kids category on the US App Store. The app has been downloaded by more than 5 million parents around the world and currently has over 300,000 active subscribers.
On the growth trajectory, Anupam Dhanuka, Co-Founder and CEO, Kiddopia says, “This investment from Nazara has helped us focus on product enhancement and marketing, thereby leading to a 3X growth in subscriber base.”
He further adds “We have just finished our best month and we expect our topline to grow 2X in annual revenues by March 2021.”
Nitish Mittersain, Founder and MD, Nazara Technologies Ltd says, “Gamified edtech is the only way to deliver high quality learning to young kids on digital devices. Kiddopia is a perfect example of this overlap between gaming and learning and their popularity amongst parents and kids speaks for itself. Nazara is very happy to add Kiddopia to our portfolio catering to over 100 million monthly active users on our network”
Nazara is also the largest free to play kids games publisher in India with 20 million monthly active kids playing and over 180 million downloads on Google Play and App store. With this move to acquire Kiddopia, Nazara further strengthens their position in the kid’s edutainment vertical.
Nazara’s network comprises of several well-known franchises and market leading brands including the popular World Cricket Championship in cricket gaming, Halaplay in fantasy sports, Nodwin Gaming in Esports and now Kiddopia in the Kids category.
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About Nazara Technologies Ltd.
Nazara Technologies Limited (‘Nazara’) is a leading global gaming and sports media company headquartered in Mumbai, India. Nazara has business operations in 64 countries across emerging markets with services in India, Singapore, Dubai, Mauritius and subsidiary companies in Africa. The company has a diversified portfolio of gaming businesses across free to play mobile games, real money skill gaming, esports and gaming subscription services.
Nazara has a network of over 100 Million players in India. The company has taken licensed mobile gaming rights to popular Indian IP characters like Chhota Bheem, Motu Patlu, Mighty Raju, Shikari Shambhu, Roll #21, Eena Meena Deeka, Oggy and the Cockroaches and Shin Chan. Nazara also owns IP’s like World Cricket Championship (WCC), EPIC Cricket, India Premiership and IPG.TV.
Nazara is also an investor in the gaming and sports ecosystem in India and has consummated transactions worth 50 Million USD in the last 3 years. The company has acquired a majority stake in Next Wave Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., Nodwin Gaming Pvt. Ltd and HalaPlay Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Nazara’s other investee companies include Mastermind Sports Ltd., Moonglabs Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Bakbuck, CrimzonCode, InstaSportz and NZWorld (NZWorld Kenya Ltd.) to set up operations for real money gaming in Kenya.
Founded by Nitish Mittersain in 2000, Nazara is backed by marquee investors which include West Bridge Capital, IIFL Special Opportunities Fund; Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and Turtle Entertainment GmbH, the IP owner of the world’s largest esports franchise (ESL).
About Paper Boat Apps Pvt. Ltd.
Paper Boat Apps is an indie studio engaged in designing, developing and publishing world class edutainment apps for kids.
Paper Boat Apps are the makers of Kiddopia - India’s largest subscription based edutainment app for early learners Kiddopia, offers interactive games and activities that foster cognitive development, self-expression and also social-emotional learning in early age Kids.
Kiddopia has been awarded the Tilly-Wig Brain Child Award, Parents Choice Award, the National Parenting Product Award and many more. Kiddopia is completely ad-free and adheres to the highest standards of privacy and kid’s safety.