LVL Zero incubator to open its first cohort applications on this Republic Day for gaming startups across India

The first-of-its-kind incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC will select 10 startups and offer each an equity-free grant of USD 10,000

The initial cohort will feature 10+ mentors from India and around the world, with LVL Zero’s 100-day sprint designed to fast-track each startup’s product execution, market readiness and growth.

National, January 22, 2026: LVL Zero, a first-of-its-kind gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, today announced that applications for its inaugural cohort will officially open from January 26, 2026, and will remain open until February 26, 2026. The cohort is open exclusively to Indian companies. The incubator is designed to accelerate India’s gaming startup ecosystem, by bringing together global expertise, equity-free capital, and structured sprint-based support to help budding founders build faster and smarter.

The first cohort will onboard 10 startups, each receiving USD 10,000 in equity-free grants, amounting to a total pool of USD 100,000. Open to all startups building mid-core game studios, gaming infrastructure, AI-native tools, and growth platforms, the program focuses on helping teams fast-track product execution, access tailored subject-matter mentorship, refine business and monetization strategies, and become investor- and publisher-ready within a 100-day period.

LVL Zero has lined up 10+ distinguished global and national mentors from across the gaming ecosystem to provide hands-on guidance, sharpen strategies, and navigate go-to-market ideas. In addition, the cohort will partner with brands from sectors such as playtesting, QA, cloud, attribution, market intelligence and more giving founders’ exposure to cross-industry insights and opportunities.

Krish Anurag, Managing Partner at Chimera VC and Founding Partner at LVL Zero said, “The launch of our first cohort is a defining moment because it finally gives early-stage Indian gaming founders a space built specifically for the challenges they face and the support they need to scale intelligently. With the backing of our partners, LVL Zero is introducing a structured framework for how young studios in India can approach design, production, monetisation, and long-term live ops from day one. What excites us is that this cohort will help shape the benchmark for what an India-born, globally-ready gaming company should look like. The 100-day journey ensures teams validate quickly, build with sharper intent, and make decisions driven by data rather than instinct. Our vision is that this program becomes a launchpad for studios that not only publish strong products, but build a repeatable model of creative excellence and sustainable growth.”

As part of its 100-day sprint, startups will undergo hands-on workshops, milestone-driven product development and testing cycles, QA and post-sprint evaluations, and modules on fundraising, IP development, and publishing. The journey is structured across three phases as follows:

Days 1 to 15 (Ignition phase): Teams establish their company vision, define team structures, and set clear OKRs to ensure strong alignment before product development intensifies.

Days 16 to 70 (Core Build phase): Startups focus on building, testing, and iterating their early product versions while engaging in community testing, simulations, and continuous feedback loops that push them toward early launches and validated builds.

Days 71 to 100 (Orbit Ready phase): Dedicated to sharpening each startup’s go-to-market strategy, business modelling, narrative development, and pitch refinement to ensure they are ready for publishers, partners, and investors.

“India has no shortage of gaming talent, but the journey from a strong prototype to a scalable, globally viable business is still fragmented. Through LVL Zero, we want to help founders close that gap by giving them early exposure to how successful gaming companies are built, operated, and sustained over time. This first cohort represents an important step in creating a stronger foundation for Indian studios that prioritises execution, live operations, and long-term value creation rather than short-term launches,” commented Nitish Mittersain, Joint MD & CEO, Nazara Technologies.

The 100-day journey culminates in a Demo Day, where founders showcase their startups to India’s leading VCs, angel investors, publishers, and industry partners. Each startup will deliver a precisely crafted five-minute pitch supported by live product demonstrations, followed by direct Q&A interactions with the jury and investors. By the end of the program, selected 10 teams will emerge with a USD 10,000 equity-free grant, a playable and user-tested product, validated core metrics, a refined GTM strategy, and a complete data room and pitch deck. The program also offers post-incubation support to help founders maintain momentum and continue accessing mentorship and opportunities beyond the sprint.

“LVL Zero is all about ecosystem building. By combining equity-free support with a structured 100-day execution model, the program provides a clear and practical framework for early-stage gaming companies in India as they form, develop their ideas, and prepare to scale. Over time, the program helps build stronger linkages between Indian studios and the global gaming ecosystem,” said Tomoharu Urabe, Managing Director of Investments at MIXI Global Investments, Inc.

According to Niko Partners’ recent India Gamer Behavior and Market Insights report, India is set to surpass 500 million gamers in 2025, with player spending projected to cross $1 billion the same year. As the fastest-growing market in Asia and MENA, India is forecast to reach $1.5 billion in player spending by 2028 and 724 million gamers by 2029 which is roughly the current size of China’s gaming audience. While the ecosystem has seen a surge of emerging gaming startups across genres and portfolios, only a few have scaled successfully to global publishing, long-term live operations, or sustainable business models.

With global investors and publishers increasingly viewing India as a hub for creative talent and innovation, LVL Zero aims to bridge this gap by providing equity-free grants, problem-aligned mentorship, and access to tools and networks required to compete internationally. Over the next five years, the incubator aims to support more than 100 high-performing gaming and interactive startups, helping them build sustainable ventures and compete on the global stage.

Startups interested in joining LVL Zero’s first cohort can apply starting January 26, 2026 here: www.lvlzero.xyz