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ngmoco has raised $45.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Key people at ngmoco.
ngmoco has raised $45.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
ngmoco operates as a publisher and developer of mobile video games, primarily for iOS and Android platforms. The company delivers a portfolio of engaging titles, notably including the Rolando series and Eliminate Pro. It also developed the Plus+ Network, a proprietary platform designed to enhance social interaction, facilitate game discovery, and support multiplayer functionality within its ecosystem of mobile games.
The company was founded in July 2008 by a team of industry veterans: Neil Young, Bob Stevenson, Alan Yu, and Joe Keene. Neil Young, previously a distinguished executive at Electronic Arts, brought extensive experience from managing significant game development divisions. The founding insight centered on capitalizing on the burgeoning market for dedicated gaming experiences on emerging mobile devices, specifically targeting the then-new iPhone platform.
ngmoco targets a broad audience of mobile device users who seek immersive and interactive gaming experiences. The company's vision is to establish a connected community around its mobile game offerings, providing a cohesive ecosystem where players can engage with diverse titles and each other. It focuses on continually evolving the mobile gaming landscape through innovative gameplay and social integration.
Key people at ngmoco.
ngmoco was a pioneering mobile game publisher focused on premium titles for iOS and Android platforms, founded in 2008 and acquired by Japan's DeNA in 2010 for up to $400 million.[1][2][3] It built and published hit games like the *Rolando* series, *Eliminate Pro*, *GodFinger*, and *We Rule*, serving early smartphone gamers by delivering high-quality, innovative experiences that capitalized on touch-screen mechanics.[1][2] ngmoco solved the problem of limited premium content in the nascent App Store era, achieving over 60 million downloads and 50 million daily play minutes by 2010, with strong early growth fueled by $40.6 million in venture funding from firms like Kleiner Perkins and Norwest Venture Partners.[1][3]
ngmoco was co-founded in July 2008 by Neil Young—a former Electronic Arts executive who led Maxis, EA Los Angeles, and EA's Blueprint division—alongside Bob Stevenson, Alan Yu, and Joe Keene, all veterans from EA's Los Angeles studio.[1][2][3] The idea emerged amid the iPhone's launch, with Young leaving EA in June 2008 to create the "Next Generation Mobile Company," targeting premium game publishing for the iPhone.[1][4] Early traction came swiftly: in October 2008, ngmoco released *Topple*, *MazeFinger*, and *Rolando*, hitting seven million installs by March 2009 and peaking with 20 top-10 App Store apps.[1][3][4] Pivotal moments included a 2009 business model shift to freemium games like *We Rule* and *GodFinger*, plus acquisitions of Freeverse and Stumptown Game Machine in 2010, setting the stage for DeNA's acquisition.[1][2][4]
ngmoco stood out in the early mobile gaming landscape through these key strengths:
ngmoco rode the iPhone App Store explosion post-2008, perfectly timed with smartphones democratizing gaming beyond consoles.[1][4] Market forces like touch controls and viral distribution favored its premium hits, but free-to-play mechanics addressed monetization challenges, influencing the shift from $5-10 paid apps to in-app purchases that defined mobile gaming.[4] As a VC-backed publisher, it amplified indie developers (e.g., *Pocket God*, *Rolando*), seeded the freemium model adopted by giants like EA and Zynga, and validated mobile as a $400 million exit path via DeNA, boosting Silicon Valley's focus on Asia-Japan mobile synergies.[1][2][3][4]
Post-2010 DeNA acquisition, ngmoco integrated into a larger mobile empire, releasing titles like *Marvel: War of Heroes* through 2013 before fading as a distinct entity amid DeNA's global pivot.[2] Looking ahead, its legacy endures in modern free-to-play giants, but as a 2008-2010 pioneer, ngmoco won't revive independently—its influence lives in the premium-to-live-ops evolution now powering $100B+ mobile markets. Trends like cloud gaming and Web3 could echo its innovations, but DeNA's trajectory suggests ngmoco's story closed as a foundational "EA for mobile" success.[1][4]
ngmoco has raised $45.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Series U in August 2010.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2010 | $5M Series U | — | Greylock, LAUNCH, Lowercarbon Capital, SV Angel, True Ventures, Vayner RSE, Shervin Pishevar | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2010 | $24M Series C | IVP | Bain Capital Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Mike O'dell, Sherpalo Ventures, Mike Gordon, Peter Barris, Maples Investments, Norwest Venture Partners | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2009 | $10M Series B | — | Cowboy Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield, Sherpalo Ventures | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2008 | $6M Series A | — | Cowboy Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Sherpalo Ventures | Announced |
ngmoco has raised $45.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
ngmoco's investors include Greylock, LAUNCH, Lowercarbon Capital, SV Angel, True Ventures, Vayner RSE, Shervin Pishevar, IVP, Bain Capital Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, Mayfield.
