STAN Raises $8.5M Led by Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Google AI Fund

STAN, a mobile-focused social gaming platform, has raised $8.5 million in a funding round led by Japanese gaming giants Bandai Namco Entertainment, Square Enix, and Reazon Holdings, alongside Google's AI Futures Fund and Aptos Labs. The company plans to use this capital to expand its presence in India's tier-2 and tier-3 markets and other mobile-dominant regions, while enhancing AI-driven personalization, creator tools, and integrations with game publishers seeking native community-building capabilities. STAN's co-founder and CEO, Parth Chadha, highlighted the platform's rapid 25× growth over the past two years, emphasizing its mission to transform gaming into a social experience. Existing investors such as General Catalyst, GFR Fund, T-Accelerate Capital, and Pix Capital also participated, reaffirming confidence in STAN's strategy. The involvement of Bandai Namco and Square Enix brings not only funding but also content and distribution expertise, positioning STAN to form strategic alliances with established game franchises. The platform currently boasts over 25 million downloads and aims to scale features for Gen Z gamers and creators in emerging markets.