155.io, a company known for creating “chaos” games such as live marble races and plastic duck racing, is gearing up for a second round of funding just one year after its initial capital raise. This innovative company has secured backing from prominent investors including Yolo Investments, Mark Blandford, and Sandford Loudon of Oakvale Capital.
The company’s name, 155.io, is inspired by the dimensions of an iPhone screen in millimeters. Led by CEO Sam Jones, who resides in Dubai, Jones brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles as the managing director at Wish.com, founder of the live shopping app OOOOO.com, and the live fantasy sports platform Ballr.com. He launched 155.io last year, debuting with the game Marbles.io.
Since its launch, 155.io has introduced Stairpong, a game that involves 106 ping pong balls racing down an actual staircase. They are also poised to release a new game called Ducks.io, which will feature plastic ducks racing down a 30-meter lazy river. The launch is scheduled for June.
Both Marbles and Stairpong are streamed continuously from 155.io’s studio, enabling customers to place bets on the race outcomes. The upcoming Ducks.io is also expected to capture a similar interest with its live races.
The company maintains in-house design of all its racecourses, working closely with a production team in the UAE, while their tech team operates from Belgium. The company currently has over 25 employees.
Marbles has been integrated into the Hub88 aggregator platform and is currently active with several cryptocurrency-centric operators including Sportsbet.io, Bitcasino.io, and Gamdom. The company has also undertaken numerous significant direct integrations.
After initially securing a seven-figure investment from entities such as Yolo Investments and former Sportingbet director Blandford, 155.io is now focusing on securing additional capital in a second funding round. The aim is to enhance compliance operations as the company plans to distribute its content in regulated markets.
Although 155.io’s games are primarily featured on crypto-first websites, CEO Jones envisions expanding to more traditional operators across various regions, including the US and Brazil.
In a recent interview with EGR, Jones discussed his ambitions to evolve 155.io’s content, drawing inspiration from external sources. He emphasized the unique, live, and chaotic nature of their games, designed specifically for a mobile audience. Jones envisions developing a virtual arcade filled with innovative games. Driven by the creative approaches of influencers such as Mr. Beast or Red Bull, Jones aims to widen the operator base with engaging and inventive content, both in and outside the studio.
Jones also mentioned that the raised funds would be dedicated to compliance efforts, content expansion, and supporting a global commercial strategy. Motivated by the success of interactive games like Aviator, Jones is focused on steering 155.io toward achieving a similar scale with an emphasis on live, dynamic content.
As 155.io prepares for its forthcoming funding initiative, the objective is to propel its eccentric games into more regulated markets, continuously blending entertainment with gambling.