GFR Fund Raises $53.5M for Gaming and AI Investments
GFR Fund: An Introduction
GFR Fund, based in San Francisco, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments primarily in entertainment and media sectors. Established in 2016, it is managed by GREE VR Capital, an affiliate of GREE Inc., a global leader in the mobile gaming industry.
GFR Fund has invested in various companies including Omeda Studios, Peerspace, Sky Mavis, Theta Labs, VRChat, Vurbl, Solsten, and TheWaveV, focusing on software, media, and virtual reality. Besides its headquarters in Tokyo, it has expanded investments across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
GFR Fund Raises $53.5M for Gaming and AI
GFR Fund has successfully raised $53.5 million for its Fund III, aimed at enhancing investments with a primary focus on gaming and artificial intelligence (AI).
Fund III will allocate approximately one-third of its capital, $17.8 million, towards content and gaming technologies. A smaller portion will be dedicated to innovative AI companies that can directly impact the gaming sector.
Moreover, Fund III commits to allocating 30% of its funds to support previous investments made by GFR Fund, demonstrating strategic growth from its initial $18 million raised in 2016 and its second fund of $20 million in 2019, which focused on virtual reality, esports, web3, and blockchain.
Their current investment portfolio includes industry giants in web3 such as Animoca Brands and Sky Mavis.
The establishment of Fund III signifies GFR Fund’s commitment to fostering promising startups in blockchain technology.
Partners like Teppei Tsutsui and Yasushi Komori bring expertise in financial platforms and the gaming industry, ensuring that GFR Fund not only provides financial support but also facilitates connections among top talents.
Additionally, GFR Fund enjoys support from influential gaming entities like Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and DeNA, and has formed a joint venture with Nintendo to research and develop digital services, further solidifying its position in the gaming industry.
This represents a significant step forward, enabling GFR Fund to combine financial capabilities with specialized knowledge to propel gaming, web3, and artificial intelligence innovations even further.
