"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."
- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
14 Nov 2024
Two Indian serial entrepreneurs are making waves in the rapidly changing game industry, where creativity reigns supreme and the next big thing is always on the horizon. With their firm Trophée, Vijay Singh and Mritunjay Srivastava are creating a stir in the gaming industry by launching a brand-new and inventive category dubbed "Game Commerce." This combination of online shopping and mobile gaming offers a fresh, engaging experience for both companies and players. There is more to this new "game commerce" technology than the typical integrated webshops found in games.
Source: Google images
It all started during the COVID-19 epidemic in late 2020 during a virtual Y Combinator conference when young digital prodigy Mritunjay Srivastava and seasoned entrepreneur and innovator Vijay Singh met. By 2022, an Australian advertising company had purchased Vijay's previous business, NATIVV, which operated in the intrinsic in-game advertising space. However, the two soon realized the limitations of traditional game advertising, the growing expectations of global brands and new generation gamers, and the problem statement of game developers.
Source: Google images
A smooth, player-driven buying experience that improved revenue and other important metrics for game creators without interfering with gaming. Trophée, a platform that allows players to purchase real-world goods without ever leaving the game, was thus born.
Trophée's construction wasn't without its challenges. The creators' desire for more significant innovation persisted even after NATIVV was acquired. The founders discovered that gamers were fed up with forced advertisements interfering with their gaming, and that companies running advertisements on the games desired more than just awareness; they also wanted real leads, sales, and deeper, real-time interaction. Their resolve gradually solidified. The founders created Trophée's initial prototype in early 2024 while getting input from advertising, developers, and seasoned gamers.
Trophée is working toward the lofty objective of transforming and simplifying the "game commerce" industry while also informing the public about it. In addition to building a solid foothold in India, the business has been looking into possible collaborations with agencies, game publishers, and brands in markets including the US, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The co-founders want to capitalize on this rapidly expanding ecosystem, which has a huge local market with over 442 million gamers in India alone. The founders are well aware of the difficulties that lie ahead, especially in teaching brands and game developers about this cutting-edge digital commerce platform. They are right to be hopeful, though, given that the gaming market in India is expected to reach $8.92 billion in the next five years.
The new generation innovators turned entrepreneurs - Vijay Singh and Mritunjay Srivastava have created a brand that resonates not only as a game changer but also as a representation of what is achievable in the Indian startup ecosystem, from conception to execution. One tap, one purchase, one game at a time, Trophée hopes to make a lasting impact on the global gaming industry as it looks to the future.