Investors are betting on user-generated content, and Gamebeast's founder explains why

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Oct 9, 2024

Zander Brumbaugh, the 22-year-old founder of Gamebeast, shares insights from his startup that empowers Roblox developers with essential tools for game creation. He discusses the booming trend of user-generated content (UGC) in gaming and why investors are eagerly betting on it as the future of the industry. Zander also highlights the dual-use potential of Gamebeast’s technology, attracting interest from both commercial and defense sectors. Expect a deep dive into the exciting intersections of gaming, innovation, and investment strategies!

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ANECDOTE

Zander's Roblox Journey

Zander Brumbaugh, Gamebeast founder, has been involved with Roblox for over 10 years, creating popular games with millions of players.
He also wrote a bestselling book series on Roblox development and consulted for major studios like Netflix and Paramount.

INSIGHT

UGC Gaming Growth

User-generated content (UGC) gaming platforms are experiencing significant growth, with Roblox boasting millions of users.
Last holiday season, 70% of US kids asked for virtual currency for these platforms over standalone games.

INSIGHT

Democratization of Game Development

UGC platforms have lowered the barrier to game creation, enabling more people to develop and share their own games.
This accessibility empowers creative expression and can even turn game development into a career.

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Today on Equity, Rebecca Bellan sat down with Zander Brumbaugh, the 22-year-old founder of Gamebeast, a startup that offers Roblox developers tools like A/B testing and LiveOps to modify games without needing to release a new version or interrupt a user’s ongoing game.

Gamebeast recently raised a $3.7 million pre-seed round, led by J2 Ventures with participation from a16z’s Speedrun accelerator, which Brumbaugh graduated from in March. Brumbaugh said everything from his experience consulting for entertainment studios like Netflix, and writing a best-selling book on Roblox development, to chats with investors tell him that the future of video gaming is in user-generated content, or UGC.

The two discussed the rise in popularity of UGC games, a sector that investors are increasingly looking towards as drivers of growth in the video game industry. Brumbaugh didn’t only get investment for his startup because investors see the value in enabling UGC game development. J2 Ventures’ thesis focuses on dual-use technology, and Gamebeast was able to demonstrate how its tech has applications both in commercial and defense. And indeed, we’re seeing a trend of companies going for that sweet military money to stay afloat.

There are more insights about the future of the video game market and investor insights aplenty, so have a listen, and enjoy!

Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.

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