A mobile games firm launched during COVID-19 has raised £1 million investment.
During lockdown Live Tech Games, which is based in London, provided company-specific games to help HR departments connect with remote workforces.
Co-founders Sam Worsley and Nathan Moore met three years ago while working for Microsoft on its graduate scheme and had always dreamed of running their own business, taking the “difficult” decision to leave the tech giant once they had their idea.
Their initial idea was to partner with the likes of bars, restaurants, concert venues and football clubs, which would offer the free five-minute games to customers and stump up their own prize, such as a chance to meet the artist, for example.
They started developing the tech in September 2019 and had started to make themselves known in the venues when lockdown hit, forcing a change of plans.
Roshambo Live is a free digital rock, paper, scissors tournament. As well as the private company games, its core offering sees players go head-to-head nationwide in live knockout rounds, with a prize of £1,000 for the ultimate champion three times a week.
The start-up says pubs and bars are already signing up to host private Roshambo Live games in their venues as the nation starts to move out of lockdown.
“Raising investment in one lockdown was a challenge and we never expected to have to do it for a second round,” said CEO Moore of the new cash injection from Angel Investors, which follows a £400,000 funding round in April 2020.
“We saw so much promise for the future of Live Tech Games in the beta launch of our first app and we were delighted our investors felt the same.
“The early success points towards a growing commercial opportunity in the B2B and media sectors and this incredible investment will allow us to reinforce the potential Live Tech Games has to be a leading industry pioneer.”
The app reached #3 in the App Store charts within just a week of its relaunch.
The start-up says it proved much more popular than anticipated in the open beta stage and organically creating a dedicated and thriving community of Roshambo Live players.