London, UK – 23rd May 2022: Firestoke, the indie game publisher founded by serial games industry entrepreneur Paul Farley in 2021 today announced its $2.2m/£1.7m/21m kr Seed Funding round. The investment was led by Hiro Capital and includes other investors with a strong gaming and game technology pedigree, adding significant strategic value and extensive networks.
Firestoke aims to bridge the gap between a growing and increasingly diverse global audience who demand games that complement AAA and mobile experiences. Their focus on delivering compact, accessible, social, and - most importantly - joyful games for console and PC is driven by a mix of creative inspiration and data-driven insights.
The round was led by Hiro Capital, an entrepreneur founded venture capital fund for video games, esports, gamified fitness, and Metaverse creators. Also participating in the round are Swedish games investors Behold VC and Scottish technology fund Techstart Ventures.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with such proven game-focused investment teams at this early stage of Firestokes journey.” said CEO and Founder Paul Farley. “Each of the investor teams bring huge additional value with complementary skill sets, experience and networks. Most importantly we value many of the same things; creating great games, empowering development talent, building successful businesses, and bringing joy and delight to our players.”
“With the backing of Hiro, Behold and Techstart, in addition to our existing funding, our mission is off to a great start!”
The investment will primarily be used to invest in extending the game portfolio, growing the publishing team, and equipping that team with the tools and technology to deliver repeatable success.
Sir Ian Livingstone partner at Hiro Capital and games industry legend added “Hiro was built upon the premise that the UK and Europe over-index in games industry talent. Paul is no exception to this and has proven himself as an extremely capable industry veteran and operator with successful exits under his belt. We’re delighted to be backing him and the Firestoke team in their quest to champion great games from great developers.”
Firestoke will launch its first titles in late 2022 on both PC and Console platforms. Potential development partners and their innovative games are now sought to bring further joy to players across the world from 2022 and beyond.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Murphy, Team Critical Hit (Hiro Capital PR)
Email: bill@teamcriticalhit.com
Garrett Fuller, Team Critical Hit (Hiro Capital PR)
Email: garrett@teamcriticalhit.com
Dan Gardener, Marketing Director, Firestoke
Email: dan.gardener@firestoke.games
- ENDS -
About Firestoke
Firestoke is a full-service publisher of indie PC and Console games. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in the UK, we operate remotely and are building a diverse global internal team and partnerships not restricted by geographical boundaries. Our titles aim to spark joy, surprise and delight in a global audience of players.
www.firestoke.games
@firestokegames
About Hiro Capital
Hiro Capital is a London / Luxembourg technology Venture Capital fund which invests Games, IP, and Metaverse Technologies. Hiro Capital generally invests at Seed through Series A and B stages. We back experienced entrepreneurial teams, building innovative technologies and content with a strongly differentiated proposition and with the scaling opportunity to become very large. We are Games and Metaverse investors who are also Games and Metaverse entrepreneurs. We are entrepreneurs who back entrepreneurs. Our core belief is that Videogames, Metaverse Technologies, Creator Platforms, and Gamified Fitness will be a central pillar of Entertainment, Economic, and Social Life in the mid-21st century. We invest in the innovators who are building that future.
www.hiro.capital
@hirocapital
About Behold Ventures
Behold Ventures is a Nordic-based, early-stage venture capital fund, focused on investing in startups in the video games sector. Founded in 2021 by veterans from the games industry, Behold Ventures financially supports, and strategically advises, entrepreneurs during the first steps of launching their own businesses. The fund makes equity investments in startups driven by ambitious and creative founders and is always looking for teams that are absolutely hellbent on creating the most amazing, interactive entertainment experiences of tomorrow.
www.behold.vc
About Techstart Ventures
Techstart Ventures is a leading pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm that provides foundational capital for extraordinary teams who are attacking uncapped global opportunities. In Scotland, Techstart Ventures LLP manages the Scottish Growth Scheme – Techstart Ventures Equity Finance LP Fund which has been financed with support from the Scottish Government.
www.techstart.vc
@TechstartVC
Firestoke aims to bridge the gap between a growing and increasingly diverse global audience who demand games that complement AAA and mobile experiences. Their focus on delivering compact, accessible, social, and - most importantly - joyful games for console and PC is driven by a mix of creative inspiration and data-driven insights.
The round was led by Hiro Capital, an entrepreneur founded venture capital fund for video games, esports, gamified fitness, and Metaverse creators. Also participating in the round are Swedish games investors Behold VC and Scottish technology fund Techstart Ventures.
“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with such proven game-focused investment teams at this early stage of Firestokes journey.” said CEO and Founder Paul Farley. “Each of the investor teams bring huge additional value with complementary skill sets, experience and networks. Most importantly we value many of the same things; creating great games, empowering development talent, building successful businesses, and bringing joy and delight to our players.”
“With the backing of Hiro, Behold and Techstart, in addition to our existing funding, our mission is off to a great start!”
The investment will primarily be used to invest in extending the game portfolio, growing the publishing team, and equipping that team with the tools and technology to deliver repeatable success.
Sir Ian Livingstone partner at Hiro Capital and games industry legend added “Hiro was built upon the premise that the UK and Europe over-index in games industry talent. Paul is no exception to this and has proven himself as an extremely capable industry veteran and operator with successful exits under his belt. We’re delighted to be backing him and the Firestoke team in their quest to champion great games from great developers.”
Firestoke will launch its first titles in late 2022 on both PC and Console platforms. Potential development partners and their innovative games are now sought to bring further joy to players across the world from 2022 and beyond.
For more information, please contact:
Bill Murphy, Team Critical Hit (Hiro Capital PR)
Email: bill@teamcriticalhit.com
Garrett Fuller, Team Critical Hit (Hiro Capital PR)
Email: garrett@teamcriticalhit.com
Dan Gardener, Marketing Director, Firestoke
Email: dan.gardener@firestoke.games
- ENDS -
About Firestoke
Firestoke is a full-service publisher of indie PC and Console games. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in the UK, we operate remotely and are building a diverse global internal team and partnerships not restricted by geographical boundaries. Our titles aim to spark joy, surprise and delight in a global audience of players.
www.firestoke.games
@firestokegames
About Hiro Capital
Hiro Capital is a London / Luxembourg technology Venture Capital fund which invests Games, IP, and Metaverse Technologies. Hiro Capital generally invests at Seed through Series A and B stages. We back experienced entrepreneurial teams, building innovative technologies and content with a strongly differentiated proposition and with the scaling opportunity to become very large. We are Games and Metaverse investors who are also Games and Metaverse entrepreneurs. We are entrepreneurs who back entrepreneurs. Our core belief is that Videogames, Metaverse Technologies, Creator Platforms, and Gamified Fitness will be a central pillar of Entertainment, Economic, and Social Life in the mid-21st century. We invest in the innovators who are building that future.
www.hiro.capital
@hirocapital
About Behold Ventures
Behold Ventures is a Nordic-based, early-stage venture capital fund, focused on investing in startups in the video games sector. Founded in 2021 by veterans from the games industry, Behold Ventures financially supports, and strategically advises, entrepreneurs during the first steps of launching their own businesses. The fund makes equity investments in startups driven by ambitious and creative founders and is always looking for teams that are absolutely hellbent on creating the most amazing, interactive entertainment experiences of tomorrow.
www.behold.vc
About Techstart Ventures
Techstart Ventures is a leading pre-seed and seed-stage venture capital firm that provides foundational capital for extraordinary teams who are attacking uncapped global opportunities. In Scotland, Techstart Ventures LLP manages the Scottish Growth Scheme – Techstart Ventures Equity Finance LP Fund which has been financed with support from the Scottish Government.
www.techstart.vc
@TechstartVC