India’s gaming sector is witnessing unprecedented growth, fuelled by mobile-first usage, a booming creator economy, and rapid adoption of technologies like artificial intelligence. Tapping into this momentum, Meta has launched the Meta Gaming Accelerator, its first-ever gaming incubator in the country, to support small and medium-sized game developers and studios with the resources needed to scale both locally and globally.
The announcement was made at the Meta Marketing Summit – Gaming Edition, which brought together top brands, venture capital funds, gaming studios, and developers.
“India’s gaming community is a hotbed of creativity and innovation, but to unlock its full potential, we need to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity,” said Arun Srinivas, Managing Director and Head of Meta in India.
“That’s why we’re launching the Meta Gaming Accelerator – to provide Indian gaming developers with access to cutting-edge ad tools, expert mentorship, and critical guidance that they need to scale their businesses and take on the world.”
The accelerator is being launched in collaboration with four major venture capital firms – Bitkraft Ventures, Kalaari Capital, Lumikai Fund, and Elevation Capital. In its first phase, the programme will select 20–30 emerging developers and studios to take part in a structured three-month curriculum.
Participants will receive strategic support in key areas such as:
The programme will conclude with a Demo Day, where developers will present their work to investors, Meta leaders, and industry stakeholders. Top-performing studios will receive platform-level support and potential funding to drive user growth through Meta’s solutions.
The initiative has received strong support from Meta’s partners. Anuj Tandon, Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures, said, “At BITKRAFT Ventures, we have a front-row seat to the explosive global growth of the gaming industry over the years, with a portfolio that spans over 140 companies across six continents. Yet, for emerging gaming markets like India, there is a big opportunity and need for the ecosystem to come together and help small and medium gaming companies. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Meta on the Gaming Accelerator—a good initiative aimed at enabling the ecosystem, unlocking new opportunities, and helping accelerate the growth of India’s gaming sector.”
Salone Sehgal, Founder and Managing Partner at Lumikai Fund, also noted, “For our fund, it’s a strategic partnership that ensures our portfolio companies, particularly those at the early and growth stages, receive the precise handholding required to master efficient user acquisition and retention strategies.”
To understand how the Meta Gaming Accelerator could impact the future of game development in India, SiGMA News spoke with Priya Ahlawat, Founder of Jumping Play Studios.
SiGMA News: How do you think Meta’s Gaming Accelerator will help small and mid-sized game developers?
Priya Ahlawat, Founder of Jumping Play Studios: Meta’s Gaming Accelerator has the potential to offer valuable support to small and midsized game developers. By providing access to resources such as technical mentorship, training, and exposure to global best practices, it can help developers enhance their capabilities and bring more competitive products to market. Initiatives like this may also contribute to ecosystem growth by encouraging innovation, skill development, and knowledge-sharing within the game development community.
SiGMA News: Which part of the programme—mentorship, AI tools, or scaling support—do you think will make the biggest difference for your growth?
Priya: Each component of the programme—mentorship, AI tools, and scaling support—offers unique value, and their combined impact can be quite significant. However, the mentorship aspect stands out as particularly meaningful, as it enables developers to learn from experienced industry professionals, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions. At the same time, access to advanced AI tools and structured scaling support can further accelerate growth when applied effectively. Ultimately, the true value lies in how these elements work together to strengthen the capabilities of participating studios.
SiGMA News: What impact do you think this initiative could have on the future of India’s gaming industry?
Priya: This initiative has the potential to contribute positively to the future of India’s gaming industry. By supporting innovation, skill development, and knowledge-sharing, it aligns with broader goals of strengthening the digital economy. Such programmes may also encourage the growth of gaming startups, improve global exposure for locally developed content, and complement efforts to build a robust digital infrastructure. Over time, this can support increased competitiveness and export potential within the sector.
SiGMA News: Do you see this accelerator as a stepping stone toward taking Indian games to an international audience?
Priya: The accelerator could serve as a supportive platform for Indian developers, enabling greater engagement with global trends and standards. While international reach depends on many factors, initiatives that foster creativity, skill-building, and cross-border collaboration may contribute to showcasing India’s growing potential in digital content and interactive entertainment on the world stage.
The Meta Gaming Accelerator is part of Meta’s ongoing push to support India’s fast-growing digital economy by helping local game developers build, grow, and reach global markets.