US web3 game developer Spekter Games has announced it’s closed a pre-seed investment of $5 million.
Investors included a16z via its Speedrun program, LVP, BRV Capital and Accelerator Ventures.
Founded by Taehoon Kim – who left his previous startup, game developer nWay in 2024, following its acquisition by Animoca Brands – Spekter Games hopes to combine deeper gameplay and a strong meta with web3 incentives to improve retention and engagement across mobile and social gaming.
Its first release will be roguelite title Spekter Agency, which is currently in testing on Telegram, while its second unnamed game is already in development.
As well as super apps such as Telegram, Spekter Games also expects to launch its games through traditional app stores.
“We believe there is a real opportunity to improve the early tap-to-earn games on Telegram with deep mechanics that resonate with real gamers. We’re thrilled to back TK and his seasoned team as they push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming on chat-based super apps,” commented a16z’s Robin Guo.
Taehoon Kim added, “We’re building games that players love for the gameplay, not just the rewards. Web3 incentives can supercharge retention and virality, but they have to stay out of the way of the fun. By keeping these systems passive and behind the scenes, we’re proving it’s possible to bring web3-enhanced games to the mainstream gamers without compromising gameplay.”