Loading organizations...
Pahdo Labs was a studio developing anime-inspired action role-playing games, fostering player creativity and community. Its flagship, Starlight Re:Volver, envisioned an action roguelite where players became magical heroes, customizing and engaging socially. The studio aimed to empower players through user-generated content within immersive online experiences.
Founded in 2021 by CEO Daniel Zou, Pahdo Labs addressed the demand for interactive anime entertainment. Zou, with key team members like creative director Alijah Ladd and art director Ashleigh Hetrick, leveraged extensive experience from companies such as Capcom and Riot Games. This pedigree fueled their ambition to cultivate new intellectual properties and vibrant virtual communities.
The studio targeted global anime enthusiasts and online RPG players seeking engaging social environments. Pahdo Labs envisioned deep connections and sustained engagement through player ownership and shared narratives. However, despite initial development and releases, the company's game development operations have since concluded.
Pahdo Labs has raised $17.8M across 3 funding rounds.
Pahdo Labs has raised $17.8M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Pahdo Labs is a gaming startup that builds immersive, anime-inspired social worlds, with a focus on creating a next-generation multiplayer action RPG called *Halcyon Zero*. Their product combines a fantastical anime intellectual property (IP) with user-generated content (UGC) tools, enabling players to contribute creatively to the evolving game world. Pahdo Labs serves anime and gaming enthusiasts who seek deep community engagement, mastery, and creative expression within a shared virtual environment. The company has demonstrated strong growth momentum, having raised over $30 million in funding, including a $15 million Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz, and is backed by prominent investors such as Zynga founder Mark Pincus and King.com founder Riccardo Zacconi[1][2][3][5].
Founded in 2021, Pahdo Labs was established by a team of experienced developers formerly associated with major game studios like Capcom, Ubisoft, WayForward, and Riot Games. The idea emerged from a desire to create a social gaming experience centered on a unique anime-inspired IP that fosters long-term player engagement through community and creativity. Early traction came from securing high-profile investors and generating excitement around *Halcyon Zero*, their flagship isometric action RPG, which integrates multiplayer cross-play on PC and mobile platforms alongside a UGC platform for anime-style mods and worlds[1][4][5][6].
Pahdo Labs rides the rising trend of combining anime culture with interactive gaming and user-generated content, a sector experiencing explosive growth fueled by passionate global fanbases and increasing demand for creative expression. The timing is favorable due to advances in generative AI tools that lower barriers for content creation, enabling rapid expansion of player-driven worlds. By focusing on a vertical market—anime fans—Pahdo Labs positions itself to deeply engage a specific community, contrasting with more horizontal platforms. This approach could influence the broader gaming ecosystem by demonstrating the value of niche, IP-driven UGC platforms and the integration of AI-assisted creative tools[5].
Looking ahead, Pahdo Labs is poised to expand its player base and content ecosystem as *Halcyon Zero* launches and its UGC platform matures. Trends such as AI-assisted content creation and the growing global anime fandom will likely accelerate their growth and innovation. Their influence may evolve from a niche gaming startup to a key player shaping how anime IPs are experienced interactively, potentially setting new standards for community-driven game development and vertical UGC platforms. Continued investor support and strategic hires will be critical to sustaining momentum and scaling their vision[5].
Pahdo Labs has raised $17.8M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $15.0M Series A in September 2023.
Pahdo Labs has raised $17.8M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Pahdo Labs's investors include Andreessen Horowitz, GAMEGROOVE Capital, Geek Ventures, Goat Capital, Makers Fund, Preston-Werner Ventures, Presto Ventures, Spring Capital, Sunset Ventures, Artur Sychov, Brian Corrigan, Gautam Shah.
