Outscal, a Delhi-based gaming EdTech company, has raised $1.5 million in its seed funding round from early-stage, technology-focused venture capital firm Kalaari Capital.
Founded by Mayank Grover in 2018, Outscal is building a platform that focuses on gaming and Web 3.0 upskilling. Understanding the problem of talent shortage in the gaming industry, the platform aims to bridge the gap between college education and industry expectation.
Outscal helps candidates excel in their game development and Web3 careers through mentorship and placement assistance. With a community-led model, it allows learners to connect and network with industry professionals who hold years of experience in building games. Learners get to connect with them in group sessions or 1-on-1 mentorship sessions.
Speaking about the platform, Mayank Grover, who is a Carnegie Mellon University alum and has previously worked with companies like Electric Arts, DeNA, Kixeye, D.E.Shaw, and Junglee, said,
“There are over 5,000+ tech colleges in India, and yet we lack structured programs in game development that align with the industry needs. On the other hand, companies end up either having positions open for months or hiring talent and then have to spend internal senior resources on upskilling the talent pool for their needs. We’re bridging this gap between passionate builders across ages and industry requirements.”
Outscal has partnered with over 100 game development studios, creating a strong network of potential employers. Some of its hiring partners include PTW, GSN Games, EA, WINZO, Junglee Games, SUMO Digital, and startups like nCore Games, LILA Games, Playshifu, among others. The starup’s Game Academy has two core products — one for companies or studios looking to hire talent and the second for learners and professionals.
Sharing why the firm invested in Outscal, Vani Kola, Managing Director of Kalaari Capital, said in a blog post,
“At Kalaari, we believe that ‘Plug and play’ & ‘games-as-a-service’ are among the models that will accelerate development cycles for game studios. As demand for gaming jobs & infrastructure rises, bridging the talent & cost gap will be crucial. We are really excited to partner with Mayank and his team as they look to solve one of the biggest challenges in the gaming industry: the shortage of tech talent.”
Claiming to be the only startup to offer game development education, Outscal says it has successfully helped hundreds of passionate people land jobs at global gaming companies via its game development programs, many of them with no coding experience.
Outscal is expanding its offerings to acquire users who want to build projects in Web 3.0. The startup is also targeting Indie game developers and individual creators who are looking to kickstart their journey in the gaming industry.
Globally, the gaming market is expected to cross $230 billion in 2022. Games made up just 6.1% of global spending in the entertainment and media sector in 2017. By 2026, that share is expected to cross 11%. While there is a massive demand for new gaming IPs, one of the biggest impediments is a huge shortage of tech talent in gaming.
