Ignite builds Simraceway, a downloadable freemium PC racing game positioned between arcade racers and hardcore simulations. The product emphasizes simulation-grade driving physics, licenses from 600 brands (including Bentley, McLaren, and Mitsubishi), and support for keyboard, wheel/pedal sets, and Ignite’s S1 motion-controlled steering wheel. Ignite has developed proprietary skill quantification technology to eliminate player mismatches and an asynchronous ghost lap system to keep players engaged when opponents are offline. The company plans to drive revenue through paid races, in-game purchases, and high-profile licensed content, and CEO Jonathan Haswell said the skill-matching tech might be licensed to other developers. Ignite also conducts R&D with four-time IndyCar winner Dario Franchitti at the Simraceway Performance Driving Center based at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. To date the company has raised $17.5 million in total funding. Ignite Game Technologies develops live online auto-racing games and operates SIMraceway.com, where users can sign up for a game beta. The company emphasizes live multiplayer gameplay, a high-fidelity physics engine and proprietary player skill quantification technology. It says it will use the new capital to develop a “new form of auto racing game” that it expects to debut later this year in the fall, although some details in the press statement were unclear. Ignite raised a $7.5 million Series B led by Steve Bellotti and Bill Budinger. The company previously raised a $3 million Series A in 2010 and has raised a total of $12.2 million to date. Ignite was founded in 2008 by Jonathan Haswell and James Synge and is based in San Francisco.

Total raised

$13M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Feb 2012