Gamestream, a specialist in white label Cloud Gaming solutions, has fundraised €4.5 million to continue its work in Cloud Gaming solutions for B2B with Audacia and Bpifrance, via its Tech and Touch fund, set to join the team of investors to participate in a second fundraising.

The French start-up currently boasting nearly 500,000 subscribers, recently launched a service on PC, TV and mobile with JioGames, a video game leader in India, adding a potential of 1.4 billion additional players on the platform.

Launched in 2019, Gamestream was created by co-founders Ivan Lebeau and Xavier Cavin. The Cloud Gaming platform requires only three megabits of bandwidth.

Thanks to its partnership with publishers including Disney Interactive, Outright Games, and Microids, Gamestream offers more than 300 cult licences for gamers. Its B2B2C solution, mainly for telecom operators as a white label, but also under its Pleio brand, is available in France via Bouygues Telecom.

Today, its Cloud Gaming platform is deployed in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, where it is distributed by: Bouygues Telecom and Zeop (via Netgem), Telekom Slovenije, e&, Telkom Indonesia, and now Reliance Jio, main operator in India and leader in video games through its subsidiary JioGames. Gamestream has also concluded a framework agreement with the Accor group to distribute its solution in its hotels around the world.

Gamestream’s recent signing with JioGames convinced Audacia and  Bpifrance to join the table of historical investors, from whom the start-up has already raised €5 million between late 2019 and May 2020. Following India, it is now looking towards West Africa.

“There is less competition from American giants in these countries, even though the need is great,” said Ivan Lebeau (pictured), Co-founder and President of Gamestream. “Few people can afford to buy a console, and even fewer can afford games for €70 each. Therefore, the demand for Cloud Gaming is high, and for just a few euros a month, players can access unlimited console quality licenses from their computer, tablet or smartphone. This new fundraising will allow us to further impose this model on the international scene.”

Gamestream is set to target large operators including telcos, who are well positioned to benefit from live streaming video games through their distribution power and network quality.

“Streaming clearly represents the future of video games. In this market, having a player like Gamestream in France is a fantastic opportunity,” explained Thomas Schmitz, Audacia’s Investment Director.

“Gamestream is an example of the success of French Deep Tech,” commented Guillaume Simonaire, Investment Director at Bpifrance. “In just four years, it has established itself as a major player on the international Cloud Gaming scene, illustrating French Touch’s commitment to promoting innovation and French leadership. We are proud to contribute today to its expansion via our Tech & Touch fund, which we hope is strong and sustainable.”