Gamineazy, Bringing Highend Gaming Closer to Masses
If Coffin Games was about developing inhouse games, Gamineazy is about bringing affordable gaming to the lives of every age group. Started by Navin Rajendran and Chirag Gaglani in April 2011, Gamineazy is in market to make the high-end gaming technology accessible and affordable for the common man. Gamineazy is a retail venture, which plans to open gaming outlets in a number of places.
Being a passionate gamer for over 25 years, Navin decided to transform his passion to profession after passing out from IIM Ahmedabad in 2011. Navin has over twelve years experience with MNCs like CGI, Wipro and ITC InfoTech. The co-founder Chirag Gaglani is a serial entrepreneur who also had an earlier stint with CISCO. He is Navin’s childhood friend and shares his passion for gaming. “Motion-gaming can entertain, refresh, de-stress and motivate minds. Through the recent developments in the gaming industry, especially in the area of motion-gaming, videogame entertainment has tremendous potential to become one of the most fulfilling social activities that provide entertainment as well as exercise.”, says Navin on the motivation to startup.
Gamineazy provides latest gaming console systems like Sony Play-Station3 and Microsoft XBOX 360, unlike arcade coin-based games. While video games have a negative perception because of the lack of physical activity, Gamineazy is the exact opposite. It provides access to motion-based games on Xbox Kinect where one has to jump, move and dance to be the champion. Just when 3D movies are making a dent, Gamineazy has built an exclusive 3D room to provide entertainment to puritan gamers. Gamineazy also has a retail store that sells latest games and takes pre-orders for those who want their games on Day Zero. The Gamineazy lounge is situated at Gopalan Innovation Mall in Bangalore.
Navin has done a little more to turn the fun arcade into a party spot by hosting corporate parties and family get togethers. If hosting corporate parties was not enough, Navin and Chirag have gone overboard to attract corporate clients by setting up permanent, professionally managed gaming setup as an entertainment and stress-buster facility in office and communities. Gamineazy also engages itself in brand promotion activities, the most recent one was for Tata Motors done in association with Radio city. Gamineazy also has plans to tie-up with banks where kids brought along with customers can have fun while parents finish the work formalities.
A boot strapped venture, Navin and Chirag have also managed some funding from relatives and friends in turn providing them with an equity stake. Gamineazy is looking out for the right kind of investors to expand into other high growth zones of the country. Gamineazy banks on social media, word of mouth and radio stations for the necessary exposure. It was was recognised as one of the 25 promising start-ups at Reverse Pitch event, where investors pitch for startups and stood second in the Entrepreneurship competition held among IIM Alumni.
Gamineazy has found a mentor in SV Ramanan, VP of Ogilvy and Mather. While they continue to grow their business, Gamineazy is also finding time to give back to the society. They recently organised a gaming foray at St Thomas Forane Church Parish, an NGO that supports children. Gamineazy has team strength of six and looking to hire more as it expands into the rapidly growing gaming industry. Speaking about his vision, Navin says: “We would like to be one stop gaming shop and are in process of rolling out franchisees soon. We will soon come up with mobile apps on Android and iOS platform.”