Business
I still remember how my sister and I used to play Mario Bros and the Jungle Book as kids. The thing that fascinated us the most about these games was discovering the unknown with every new level we entered. Storytelling was important to us. 20 years later, my nieces seek the same stories. I went a step ahead to figure out how many games in the market actually cater to their needs.
I spoke to Salone Sehgal, General Partner, Lumikai Fund. Salone has over a decade of cross-sector experience in advising, operating, and evaluating tech businesses. Salone started her career in the investment banking and private equity spaces at Morgan Stanley and Barclays and later went on to found a gaming company for the female audience called TrulySocial. To fund such games, she joined the world of venture at London Venture Partners, later launching the first fund with a focus on gaming in India. She has been recognized as one of the “Top 30 Women in Mobile” and “Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech”. She is a graduate of IESE Business School.
In this episode, we will learn:
- Salone’s journey to the world of venture
- Growth drivers for the Indian gaming space
- Finding space in the consumers’ minds - game mechanics is key
- Building and enhancing brand equity
- Qualities displayed by gaming companies that have seen exits - having a view on the market and creativity are key
- Building games for girls / women - INSPIRATION is important; ‘tend and befriend’ vs ‘fight or flight’ responses
- Importance of niche funds - it helps for investors to have deep sector expertise
- Building diverse VC teams
Follow on Twitter - Lumikai @Lumikai, Salone @salonesehgal, and The Women who Build @TheWomenWhoBui1.
In case of any questions/suggestions, write to me at shreya.bakliwal1993@gmail.com.