Metica Raises $9M in Seed Funding to Revolutionize Gaming with AI-driven Personalization and Monetization Solutions.
January 16, 2025
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Metica, an innovative tech company focused on AI-driven customer engagement and personalization solutions for the gaming industry, has successfully raised $9 million in a seed funding round. The investment was led by notable venture capital firms, including Play Ventures, 13books, and Firstminute Capital, with participation from influential angel investors such as Riccardo Zacconi, former CEO of King, and Caro Krenzer, CEO of Trailmix. This funding will enable Metica to expand its groundbreaking platform, which integrates user acquisition (UA), in-game monetization, and AI-driven personalization.
Founded by serial entrepreneurs Phil Mohr and Puli Liyanagama, Metica represents their third major venture together, following the success of Comufy and DataTiger, both of which were acquired by King and Apple, respectively. Drawing on their extensive experience in the gaming industry, the founders have assembled a skilled team with expertise in building scalable AI solutions. The team’s goal is to transform how gaming companies approach user engagement and monetization.
The gaming industry has traditionally faced challenges with siloed departments, particularly between user acquisition, marketing, and monetization. Metica aims to bridge this gap by offering a unified platform that optimizes these three critical areas, creating a growth loop that drives engagement and revenue for game developers. Metica’s AI-powered system goes beyond outdated testing methods, offering real-time in-game personalization that enhances player experiences and optimizes monetization strategies.
In addition to enhancing player experiences, Metica’s platform offers a unique service—growth funding for game developers. By leveraging real-time ad cohort predictions and data insights, Metica helps developers assess their readiness for UA growth funding. For games that are not yet ready for this funding, Metica provides services to optimize user acquisition and lifetime value, helping developers reach the necessary benchmarks for investment.
Phil Mohr, Co-Founder of Metica, shared, “We’ve seen a massive opportunity in connecting user acquisition, marketing, and in-game monetization, areas that have long existed in silos. With the emergence of advanced AI technologies, we’re moving the gaming industry to a continuous optimization and personalization mindset, unlocking new potential for growth.” This statement highlights Metica’s commitment to bringing innovative solutions to a traditionally fragmented market.
The seed funding round was particularly notable for the high-profile investors involved. Riccardo Zacconi, who is best known for his work as CEO of King, praised Metica’s founders, saying, “Phil and Puli have consistently demonstrated their ability to identify critical gaps in the gaming industry and deliver solutions that add extraordinary value. With Metica, they’ve built on their foundation to create a product that blends AI and personalization with the needs of today’s gaming market.”
Harri Manninen, Co-Founder of Play Ventures, added, “Metica is the best team to address the massive gap in the gaming market between in-game monetization and UA optimization, powered by AI.” The company’s ability to seamlessly merge these traditionally separate areas is seen as a key differentiator in its success.
Metica’s platform has already attracted interest from early adopters, who have played a pivotal role in shaping the company's direction. Puli Liyanagama, Co-Founder, expressed gratitude for their support, stating, “The early adopters have been pivotal in shaping the company’s success and we are very grateful for their trust and support.” He also highlighted the invaluable role of their investors, whose guidance has been crucial in refining the company’s vision.
Spencer Lake, partner at 13books, also commented on Metica’s innovative approach to funding, noting, “Metica has developed a data-driven platform leveraging real-time analytics to reduce the risk and offer fully automated financing solutions tailored specifically for game developers.” This data-driven approach allows Metica to provide game studios with the capital they need to scale without giving up equity, a critical advantage for developers in the competitive gaming landscape.
With this new funding, Metica is well-positioned to redefine the gaming industry by offering AI-driven solutions that not only enhance player experiences but also provide developers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving market. By providing both personalized engagement tools and growth funding, Metica is helping game studios achieve sustainable growth and long-term success.
This funding round is a significant step for Metica as it continues its mission to revolutionize the gaming industry. Through its innovative platform, Metica is transforming how games approach user acquisition, monetization, and personalization, paving the way for a new era of AI-powered growth.