A recap of the Tech Triumph Program (TTT) Bharat Edition Season 1 and 2
When it comes to genuine opportunities for showcasing gaming products, talent, and capabilities on a global stage, Indian game developers often find the avenues to be limited. The Tech Triumph Program (Bharat Edition) (TTT) has emerged as a transformative solution to address exactly this gap.
Over two impactful seasons, set up to create opportunities in India, it has established itself as a flagship platform, fostering innovation, celebrating indigenous design, and propelling Indian games and technology into the global spotlight.
What is the TTT?
The Tech Triumph Program is a flagship initiative aimed at empowering game developers globally and in India by offering mentorship, resources, and global exposure. The program seeks to nurture talent, spark innovation, showcase India’s gaming potential, highlight its rich gaming culture, support developers in creating competitive global games, and promote the export of Indian gaming technology and talent. Through this initiative, developers gain the opportunity to overcome industry challenges and expand their impact on both the Indian and international gaming ecosystems.
The best part? This is a sponsored opportunity to showcase their products before a global gaming audience alongside industry giants like Epic Games, Xsolla, and Microsoft. The Tech Triumph Program unlocks valuable networking, publishing, and investment opportunities. In Seasons 1 and 2, we supported game developers by providing them with AWS Credits, sponsoring part of their travel, providing all-access passes to the convention, setting up booths for them, and offering dedicated spaces to showcase their games.
Why is TTT Important?
> Empowering the Next Generation of Talented Developers:
From the start, our vision for TTT has been to empower game developers by providing mentorship, essential resources, and unmatched global exposure. The program’s success is reflected in the exceptional quality of games produced and the impressive growth of its participants. TTT enables developers to implement real-time audience feedback and conduct live playtests at global conferences, offering invaluable insights into reaching international audiences from India.
Our participants are set to dominate the global stage, creating some of the most highly anticipated games from India. One such example is “Mumbai Gullies,” a AAA open-world action game that allows users to experience the vibrant streets of Mumbai, offering a rich cultural Indian experience. This game stands as a testament to the incredible talent fostered through our initiatives. “Mumbai Gullies” has consistently garnered recognition for its stellar work, winning multiple awards, including the “Best Gaming Promo” at the Meta Awards 2022. Their journey didn’t stop there; they also secured multiple rounds of funding in 2022 and 2024, raising up to $1 million dollars.
This level of success of the games, who were able to be a part of the TTT cohort underscores the potential of nurturing and providing exposure to high-quality game development.
> Celebrating Indian Culture and Storytelling Through Gaming Innovation:
Within our call for applications as well as during our rigorous selection process through expert jury members, we encouraged developers to think creatively and push the boundaries of game design.
Some of the TTT champions paved the way for creativity and Indian cultural storytelling in gaming including Kamla—a survival horror set in 1970s India by Mad Mantra Studios, Kurukshetra: Ascension by Studio Sirah—an epic strategy game inspired by the Mahabharata and Ramayana, Tanhaji: The Last Warrior by Abracadabra Studios, a 3D war game centered on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and Shri Ram Mandir by Funstop Games, blending strategy with devotion.
We proudly showcased the limitless creativity of Indian developers, seamlessly blending tradition with innovation.
“As PM says the Virasat has to go together with Vikas, and games like this will go a long way as kids start to playing the game, they will be more engaged with our glorious history and past”
– Shri Rohit Kumar Singh (Former Secretary to the Government of India)
> Building a Unified Community in Today’s Fragmented Game Developer World:
The game development community often faces challenges in networking and connecting, making it harder to identify the next generation of emerging talent and develop the skills needed for industry growth. The Tech Triumph Program seeks to address this by fostering a unified and collaborative community. With a focus on building meaningful connections, TTT enables partnerships, promotes collaboration, and drives shared growth. This initiative aims to empower developers and create a thriving network for the next generation of gaming innovation.
Nikhil Malankar’s vlog highlights the exciting experience of Indian developers at GamesCom LATAM during TTT Bharat Season 2. Winning studios from the program had the opportunity to connect with a Brazilian audience, showcasing their games. They received an enthusiastic and receptive response from the audience, which was eager to engage with their innovative games.
> Driving Industry Growth and Global Exports:
TTT has had a significant impact on the overall growth of the gaming industry in India. By nurturing talent and promoting innovation, we have contributed to the exposure of high-quality games recognized both domestically and internationally. In both Season 1 and Season 2, TTT partnered with key organizations such as the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Interactive Entertainment & Innovation Council (IEIC), providing critical support to Indian game developers and facilitating their global exposure. These strategic collaborations have played a pivotal role in driving the growth and international recognition of the Indian gaming industry.
At GamesCom LATAM, Paavan Nanda, co-founder of WinZO, proudly introduced all the Indian developers present, highlighting their achievements on the global stage. The event featured prominent dignitaries like Marília Marton, Honorary Secretary of Culture, Creative Economies, and Industry for the State of São Paulo, and Suresh K. Reddy, the Indian Ambassador to Brazil.
Marília Marton plays a pivotal role in shaping Brazil’s creative economy, a vital part of the country’s rapidly growing gaming sector, which stands as one of the largest gaming markets globally, valued at over $2.4 billion and ranking 1st among Latin American countries for revenue.
Ambassador Suresh K. Reddy’s presence underscored India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Brazil, especially in fostering collaborations in the gaming and tech sectors. This convergence of influential leaders and a thriving market underscored the importance of showcasing Indian talent on such a prestigious platform.
“It’s really motivating to know that there is a community supporting us, helping us build our games and showcasing them all over the world, from Brazil to São Paulo, today. To all the women who want to enter the gaming world, start by playing games, exploring, becoming independent, and staying confident. Stay informed about what’s happening around you, and it will help you become one of the leaders in the industry.”
– -Megha Gupta, Co-Founder, Wala Interactive
The Journey of TTT so far: A Recap of Seasons 1 and 2
Season 1: Game Developers Conference, San Francisco, USA
For Season 1 of TTT, we launched at the Silicon Valley Gateway – San Francisco! We set up the first-ever India Pavilion at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) on 18-22 March, 2024.
The pavilion was inaugurated by Dr. K. Srikar Reddy, Consul General of India at San Francisco, and Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President & CEO of USISPF.
This inaugural edition enabled 15 game developers to showcase their games at GDC, including studios like Invrse Digital, Hypernova Interactive, Lucid Labs, Xquads, Funstop Games, Studio Sirah, Ayelet Studio, GameEon Studios, Wala Interactive, and more.
The event also saw the launch of the India Gaming Market Report 2024. The India Gaming Market Report (IGMR) 2024 offers a comprehensive analysis of the Indian gaming industry, highlighting key trends, growth opportunities, and consumer behavior across mobile, console, and PC gaming. It provides insights into the factors driving the industry’s expansion, such as technological advancements, increased internet penetration, and the rise of eSports and online gaming.
For TTT, the launch of IGMR 2024 is highly relevant as it marks the emerging opportunities for Indian game developers further boosting the visibility and potential of Indian talent in the global market.
Key Highlights of Season 1
> Diverse Participation:
We saw an overwhelming response from game developers nationwide, welcoming participants from various backgrounds, age groups, and cities in India. This diversity reflected the growing potential within India’s gaming industry.
> Showcase and Recognition:
Season 1 of the TTT culminated in a spectacular event where participants showcased their games to a distinguished panel of judges. Notable jury members included Rajesh Raju, (Managing Director, Kalaari Capital), Anand Jain (Co-founder & CPO, Clever Tap), Justin Shriram Keeling (Founding General Partner, Lumikai), Agatha Yerbury (Head of Publishing, Pixel United), Neha Yadav (Head Digital Native Business), Menaka Guruswamy (Senior Advocate, Supreme Court), Rakesh Dubey (Additional Director, STPI-HQ) etc. The winners were recognized for their innovative work, gaining insightful feedback from industry leaders.
> Carryminati at GDC:
What won over all the developers and the global gaming audience was when Asia’s top influencer, Carryminati, interacted with all the developers and played their games. He particularly expressed his appreciation for the TTT Program as well as the incredibly skilled game development community he got to engage with.
“For the first time in India, we have developers being able to represent their work at a global level”
– Carryminati, Asia’s #1 Influencer
The success of Season 1 inspired many aspiring developers, especially the winners, to continue to pursue their passion, contributing to the overall growth and maturity of the industry. We were able to see an overwhelming rise in applications when we ran the next season – let’s take a look at what happened in Season 2.
Season 2 – GamesCom LATAM, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Building on the success of Season 1, we decided to fly all the way to the Heart of Latin America- Brazil! Season 2 of the TTT set new milestones by establishing the first-ever India Pavilion at Gamescom LATAM, Sao Paulo, on June 26-30, 2024. This significant event was inaugurated by Shri Suresh K. Reddy, Ambassador of India to Brazil, and Ms. Marilia Marton, São Paulo’s Secretary for Culture, Creative Economy, and Industries.
In collaboration with its government partner, the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), and IEIC, WinZO enabled 18 Indian game developers to showcase their games to a diverse Brazilian audience.
This larger cohort included Funstop Games, Studio Sirah, Ayelet Studio, GameEon Studios, Wala Interactive, Wega Labs, Mad Mantra Games, Dunali Games, Chennai Games, Flying Robot Studios, AbracaDabra Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Gods and Heroes Studio, Singular Scheme, Nukebox Studios, Nilee Games and Future Technologies Pvt. Ltd., MindYourLogic Studios Private Limited, AbhiTechGames Studios, and Labour Union Studios. Particularly, AbhiTechGames Studios and Labour Union Studios were founded by developers who were still students, providing valuable exposure and opportunities to young, budding entrepreneurs.
Key Highlights of Season 2
> Feedback from a Diverse Latin American Audience:
Meeting other game developers and getting enthusiasts to play their games at Gamescom Latam was an exhilarating experience for all the developers. Several people got to play all the games showcased and the developers received direct feedback from consumers, which was invaluable for their growth.
> Showcase and Recognition:
Season 2 of the TTT culminated in a spectacular event where participants showcased their games to a distinguished panel of judges. Notable jury members included Shri Rohit Kumar Singh, Former Secretary to the Government of India, Ambassador Suresh K. Reddy, Sanjeev Bhikchandani (Co-Founder of InfoEdge), Rajesh Raju (Managing Director of Kalaari Capital), Dr. Umesh Mukhi (Associate Professor of Management at FGV – EAESP), and Animesh Agarwal (Founder of 8Bit Creatives). The winners were recognized for their innovative work, gaining insightful feedback from industry leaders.
“We are not only poised to capture the Indian market, but with our rich history, incredible mythology, and exceptional tech talent, we can create unique and creative games that not only showcase India’s culture and heritage on a global stage but also introduce groundbreaking technological advancements to the world.”
– Rajesh Raju, Managing Director of Kalaari Capital
“I would like to congratulate WinZO for their vision and execution of this unique program that unites and strengthens India’s gaming ecosystem. Gaming has the potential to position India as a global leader in consumer technology, and it’s inspiring to see this event bringing the industry together. Congratulations to all of you for shining a global spotlight on India—this is no small achievement.”
– – Shri Sanjeev Bikhchandani
> Fireside Chat at LATAM:
We hosted a high-profile fireside chat exploring the immense opportunities within the gaming industries of India and Brazil, focusing on the synergies between these two vibrant markets. The discussion highlighted the growing influence of gaming as a cultural and economic driver, emphasizing the potential for collaboration in innovation, talent exchange, and market expansion.
The event was graced by Shri Suresh K. Reddy, Hon. Ambassador of India to Brazil, and Marília Marton, Hon. Secretary for Culture, Creative Economy, and Industries of São Paulo State, who shared their perspectives on fostering partnerships in the gaming and tech ecosystems. The chat revolved around topics like leveraging the creativity and diversity of both nations, opportunities for co-developing games, and building cross-cultural narratives that resonate globally.
The fireside chat also celebrated the deepening ties between India and Brazil, two nations with rich cultural histories and fast-growing gaming markets. Both dignitaries inaugurated the India Pavilion at Gamescom, marking a significant milestone for bilateral collaboration and reinforcing a shared vision of elevating gaming to new heights on the global stage.
For the developers, Gamescom LATAM was a milestone in their entrepreneurial journey. Showcasing their passion and hard work to a global audience, they received feedback and recognition that motivated them to continue innovating. The audience’s appreciation and engagement demonstrated the impact of their games, and many users reached out post-BTTP, further validating their efforts.
What’s Next? Season 3 of TTT
Next up, we plan to make waves in India and globally with the support of IEIC, as we showcase the winners of the third edition at GDC (San Francisco, USA) and WAVES (New Delhi, India), both scheduled post March 2025. This edition holds special significance as it is part of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s (MIB) Create in India Challenge Season-1, further boosting the morale of developers and showcasing their talent on prestigious platforms.
What makes this edition particularly exciting is its global expansion, aiming to bridge the gaps between Indian investors, publishers, and developers with their international counterparts. By fostering cross-border collaborations, the program seeks to unlock new avenues for funding, publishing, and innovation.
Building Tomorrow: TTT’s Vision for the Future
As we look ahead to future seasons of TTT, it is evident that this initiative will remain a cornerstone in shaping the future of game development in India. With each season, we continue to evolve and adapt, ensuring TTT stays a flagship program and a valuable resource for the industry.
Over the course of Seasons 1 and 2, we received over 150+ applications, showcasing immense talent from across the nation, including entries from Rajkot, Surat, Ahmedabad, and other cities and towns. This widespread participation highlights the growing appeal of game development and the untapped potential in every corner of India.
For us, TTT is more than just a competition; it is a platform for growth, innovation, and community building. It exemplifies what can be achieved when talent is nurtured and given the opportunity to thrive. As we celebrate the successes of Seasons 1 and 2, we look to the future with optimism and excitement, confident that the best is yet to come for India’s game development community.
