OUYA built an affordable $99 Android gaming console that connects to TVs and provides automatic access to free-to-try games. The company launched on Kickstarter in 2012, raising $8.6 million, and has since attracted institutional investors. OUYA reports over 12,000 game developer sign-ups (up from 8,000 in March) and has retail distribution deals with GameStop, Best Buy and Amazon. CEO Julie Uhrman says the hardware essentially breaks even at the $99 price, while developers monetize via demos, microtransactions, donations or subscriptions. The latest funding will be used to support developers, secure exclusive content, and meet demand in markets including Japan, Brazil, Germany, Spain and Italy. OUYA builds an open, affordable Android-based game console intended to support a broader ecosystem of games. The company launched via a Kickstarter campaign that raised $8.6 million and enlisted 63,416 backers. That funding was, Uhrman said, enough to run the company and deliver the first wave of consoles to Kickstarter backers; shipments were supposed to start on March 28. Prior to the campaign the team shipped 1,200 developer units to early testers. OUYA has 481 announced titles so far, including a console exclusive for the Double Fine Adventure. Uhrman said the bigger challenge than hardware is building and sustaining the developer ecosystem.

Total raised

$24M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

May 2013