South African based mobile games publisher Carry1st, founded by Cordel Robbin-Coker, Lucy Hoffman, and Tinotenda Mundangepfupfu in 2018. The company has raised a $20 Million Investment led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. The funding also saw participation from big names such as Google, Nas, Riot Games, among many others.
Carry1st is named by Andreessen Horowitz as “ Africa’s leading mobile games publisher, serving over one million users today”. Carry1st, which recently published Tilting Point’s SpongeBob : Krusty Cook-off, have stated that they will use additional funds to expand their base. The company also intents to increase its network with different studios in order to build an infrastructure to support play-to-earn gaming.
Carry1st is the leading publisher of social games and interactive content in Africa. Currently based in Cape Town, South Africa. They are currently working with studios across the globe to level up their games and scale them in dynamic new markets.
Why Andreessen Horowitz invested in Carry1st
Explaining the reasoning behind the investment, Andreessen Horowitz has stated that it is a huge opportunity for a next-generation games platform and social networking in Africa. Considering the payments barrier in Africa for international developers. As, payment methods in Africa remain highly fragmented with mobile wallets, banks, and several card networks across the country. And Carry1st has aggregated Africa’s payment networks into a modern platform. Hence, this investment will allow international developers and investors to the huge untouched population present in Africa.
The involvement of Nas guarantees a sensation
This investment led by Andreessen Horowitz has received immense attraction from within and outside the gaming community. And this is due to the involvement of Nas, an American rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Nas under his venture capital firm, Queensbridge Venture Partners, has made investments in the past supporting companies such as SeatGeek, and others. Nas has previously mentioned his passion for investment stating that it helps make things happen, and help build people up, and make dreams come true.
With impressive investors and the magnitude of the funding, all eyes are peeled to note if the ambition of Carry1st to becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region is achieved.
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