Google Places Bet on STAN, an Indian Social Gaming Platform

STAN, an emerging Indian social gaming platform that blends gaming with creator-driven communities, has secured backing from Google as part of an $8.5 million equity funding round. The investment reflects growing interest in platforms that merge entertainment, social interaction, and AI.

Google’s investment came via its AI Futures Fund, launched in May 2024 to support startups building innovative products using Google’s AI tools. Other major participants in the round include Japanese gaming powerhouses Bandai Namco Entertainment, Square Enix, and Reazon Holdings, alongside Aptos Labs, King River Capital, and existing investors General Catalyst and GFR Fund.

What is STAN? A New Take on Gaming Communities

Headquartered in Singapore but rooted in India’s booming mobile gaming market, STAN is positioning itself as a next-gen social hub for gamers—similar to Discord, but with a distinct approach focused on rewards and monetization.

STAN allows users to earn in-app currency called “Gems” by playing popular games like

Battlegrounds Mobile India (by Krafton)
Garena Free Fire Max
Minecraft
Call of Duty Mobile
Classic casual games like Ludo and Snakes & Ladders

These Gems are not just digital trophies. They can be redeemed for real-world rewards, including vouchers from major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and PhonePe. Users can also earn Gems via referrals, a daily spin wheel, and regular in-app activities.

This model of “play and earn” gives STAN a monetization edge over platforms like Discord, where user engagement typically doesn’t translate to tangible rewards.

Creator Clubs and Social Engagement

At the heart of STAN’s community experience are its “Clubs”—dedicated chat rooms tailored to specific games. Creators can set up clubs and offer exclusive gaming experiences or sessions. While anyone can join, users must pay with Gems (the platform’s social currency) to access premium experiences. STAN then takes a commission from each transaction.

“We’re building the go-to hangout place for gamers,” said Parth Chadha, co-founder and CEO of STAN. “It’s where people make friends, play, and talk—it’s a fusion of gaming and social connection.”

Rapid Growth and User Traction

Since its launch, STAN has quickly gained traction. The app has been downloaded more than 25 million times across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and currently boasts about 5.5 million monthly active users.

The company initially curated live content through internal vetting, but in 2023, it opened up the platform to user-generated content. This shift empowered creators to livestream on their own, which Chadha says significantly boosted both engagement and downloads.

Business Partnerships and B2B Growth

STAN is not just a consumer app—it also operates a growing B2B wing. The platform works with game publishers and developers, including Krafton, Garena, and Roblox, to help them connect directly with its large, engaged gamer base.

According to Chadha, around 100 game publishers, studios, and developers have already partnered with STAN over the last two quarters, with 20 or more joining every month.

“That is turning into a very interesting business stream as we speak,” he noted.

AI-Driven Future with Google’s Support

Looking ahead, STAN plans to use Google’s AI expertise to enhance content moderation and develop creator tools.

Currently, 70–80% of moderation is already automated using AI, with the rest handled by a human team. STAN now aims to increase automation even further, improving response times and community safety.

Planned AI-powered tools for creators include:

Custom avatar generators
Meme creation tools
Auto-response chat assistants
AI-based chat filters

Chadha said.

“There are a lot of plug-and-play AI models we’re exploring with Google. We want to scale this fast and efficiently.”

Part of a Bigger India Investment Strategy

STAN isn’t the only Indian startup Google has backed under its AI Futures Fund. The fund’s first Indian investment was in Toonsutra, which uses AI to power immersive comic-reading experiences.

To date, Google has invested more than $5.5 billion in India through various initiatives, including funding rounds for STAN, Toonsutra, Pixxel, and Adda 24×7.

India’s digital economy, with its over 500 million mobile gamers, presents a lucrative market for Google’s long-term AI and infrastructure strategies.

Global Expansion on the Horizon

While STAN is currently geo-restricted to India, international interest is growing. According to company data, 5–6% of current user engagement comes from outside India, primarily via Indian phone numbers and proxy accounts.

The company plans to begin international expansion in the next 12 months, starting with the Indian subcontinent, then branching into Southeast Asia and Latin America, two fast-growing markets for mobile gaming and creator content.

Profitability and Funding Milestones

Though STAN briefly reached profitability, it chose to reinvest its earnings into scaling operations. The startup now targets profitability again by 2027, according to Chadha.

With a lean team of about 40 employees, fewer than 30 are focused on product engineering—a testament to the company’s capital-efficient operations.

Following this latest round, STAN’s total equity funding has reached approximately $15 million.

Google Places Big Bet on STAN, an Indian Social Gaming Platform to Capture Gen Z Audience