KRAFTON India Joins the Shuru Wave—Is This the Future of Local Connectivity?

Image Source: Helveticans

KRAFTON India, the powerhouse behind Battlegrounds Mobile India, has made a strategic investment in Shuru, a rapidly growing hyperlocal community app, signaling a bold play to deepen grassroots connectivity across the country. The Series A funding round, which also saw participation from Omidyar Network India and Eximius Ventures, marks another milestone in KRAFTON’s ongoing commitment to India’s digital ecosystem.

Key Highlights:

Hyperlocal Reach: Shuru connects over 2 million monthly active users across 6.5 lakh locations and recently surpassed 1 crore app installs, making it one of India’s most expansive hyperlocal platforms.
Community Empowerment: The app enables users to share local updates, discover nearby shops, post buy-sell listings, and engage in civic issues, aiming to bridge digital gaps in both urban and rural India.
Strategic Synergy: KRAFTON’s investment is set to unlock new opportunities for Shuru, including the integration of high-engagement gaming features, leveraging KRAFTON’s expertise to boost user engagement and retention.
Vision Alignment: KRAFTON India’s CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn highlighted the vital role of hyperlocal platforms in fostering community engagement, while Shuru’s CEO Mayank Bhangadia envisions a digitally connected and empowered India.
Expanding Portfolio: This move adds to KRAFTON’s $200 million investment footprint in Indian startups and aligns with its strategy to back innovative platforms that go beyond gaming.