Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · San Francisco, CA, USA
Video game developer creating action-music spectacle games for PC and console gamers, launching debut title Dead as Disco in 2025.
Brain Jar Games is a video game development studio creating original action titles for personal computer and console platforms. The company is currently developing its debut title, Dead as Disco, an action-music game scheduled for commercial release in 2025. The studio has successfully secured $6.7 million in seed funding to support its operations and game production. The development team possesses over 100 years of combined industry experience with credits on more than 30 titles across major publishers like Blizzard and Riot. The recent financing round included investments from notable industry figures such as Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell, former Harmonix executive Chris Rigopulos, and former Trion Worlds chief executive officer Scott Hartsman. The company was established by chief executive officer Will Cook alongside a team of veteran developers, although the exact founding year currently remains undisclosed.
Brain Jar Games has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round.
Brain Jar Games has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Brain Jar Games has raised $7.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Seed in March 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2024 | $7M Seed | AMY WU, Brett Krause | Alumni Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Eden Chen, Nate Mitchell, Chris Rigopulos, Christopher Ball, Cohhcarnage, David Stelzer, Jiten Dajee, Oksana Kubushyna 🔜 GDC, Scott Hartsman, 1UP Ventures | Announced |
Brain Jar Games has raised $7.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Brain Jar Games's investors include Amy Wu, Brett Krause, Alumni Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Eden Chen, Nate Mitchell, Chris Rigopulos, Christopher Ball, CohhCarnage, David Stelzer, Jiten Dajee, Oksana Kubushyna 🔜 GDC.
Brain Jar Games is a seed-stage video game development studio founded in 2024 and based in San Francisco, California, specializing in bold, vibrant AAA games designed for shareability and replayability.[1][2][3] The company builds high-quality titles like its debut *Dead as Disco*, which fuses kinetic action reminiscent of *John Wick* with music-driven choreography inspired by *Baby Driver*, targeting gamers in the PC, console, and potentially broader video game markets.[2] It serves the global gaming industry by creating immersive experiences with strong gameplay, audio-visual spectacles, and social appeal, addressing the demand for innovative, compelling titles that stand out in a crowded market.[1][2] With $6.7M raised in seed funding about a year ago, the studio operates fully remotely across North America, Europe, and Turkey, showing early momentum through veteran leadership and ambitious project announcements.[1][2][5]
Brain Jar Games was founded in 2024 by Kaitlyn Kincaid and Will Cook, both bringing expertise from AAA game development backgrounds.[3] The studio emerged as a global, fully remote team of industry veterans aiming to craft standout games amid a shifting gaming landscape favoring innovative, shareable experiences.[2][5] Early traction includes securing $6.7M in seed VC funding shortly after launch and revealing *Dead as Disco* as its flagship title, signaling strong initial investor confidence and a clear creative vision from day one.[1][2]
Brain Jar Games rides the wave of AAA indie studios leveraging remote work and veteran expertise to challenge big publishers, capitalizing on trends like music-rhythm action hybrids and socially viral games in a post-pandemic gaming boom.[1][2] Timing aligns with surging demand for innovative PC/console titles amid mobile saturation and blockchain gaming hype, where players seek ownership-like engagement without crypto complexity—positioned against competitors like Battlebound (play-to-earn AAA) or Making Fun (narrative-driven PC/mobile).[1] Market forces favoring remote global teams and seed funding for high-potential debuts amplify its influence, potentially reshaping how small studios deliver blockbuster-caliber experiences and foster shareable content ecosystems.[1][2][5]
Brain Jar Games is poised to launch *Dead as Disco* as a breakout hit, testing its formula for viral, replayable AAA games in a market hungry for fresh IPs. Escalating AI tools for development, cross-platform releases, and social media integration will shape its trajectory, potentially expanding to multiple titles if early reception mirrors funding momentum. As remote studios proliferate, its veteran-led model could elevate indie influence, pressuring incumbents and defining shareable gaming's next era—echoing its mission to create games players can't resist sharing.[1][2]