Nas and Google are investing over R300 million into Cape Town-based mobile gaming publisher.
Western Cape, South Africa (24 January 2022) – American Rapper Nas has partnered with Google to invest over R300 million into Carry1st, a Cape Town-based mobile gaming publisher.
Founded in 2018, Carry1st employs 32 people across 14 countries and recently raised $20 million (over R300 million) in a financing round led by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from such big names as Nas, Google and Riot Games.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, as part of Andreessen Horowitz’s first investment in a company headquartered in Africa, partners David Haber and Jonathan Lai will join the board of Cape Town, South Africa-based Carry1st, whose games include SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off from studio Tilting Point.
SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off saw immediate success upon its announcement in 2019, with the strongest pre-registration performance of any Nickelodeon game ever: more than 17 million players pre-registered.
At launch, it was one of the top ten most downloaded games on iOS in 97 countries. It achieved this in 79 countries on Google Play.
“On the back of 96 percent monthly revenue growth, Carry1st will use the additional capital to expand its content portfolio, grow its product, engineering and growth teams, and acquire tens of millions of new users,” the statement said. “Notably, Carry1st is expanding into game co-development, working with leading game studios on original concepts and developing the infrastructure to support play-to-earn gaming.”
“We’re excited to partner with this world-class group of investors who, in addition to capital, bring expertise across gaming, fintech, and web3,” said Cordel Robbin-Coker, co-founder and CEO of Carry1st. “In 2021, we launched multiple games and digital commerce solutions achieving really strong growth. Together we can accelerate this growth and achieve our goal of becoming the leading consumer internet company in the region.”
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