a note from us
- ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, there lived an author with a dilemma
- she just finished the greatest work of fiction; however, she couldnโt help but think: โwhat if the plot went another direction insteadโ ๐
- the author could only write one book, so she settled on her original plot, leaving her wondering where her new ideas could take her
- this weekโs company gives fiction writers the tools to play out all their ideas ๐พ
in a sentence
Dorian is a no-code interactive storytelling platform that allows fiction writers to create mobile games from their work
-
interactive storytelling: authors turn their tales into choose-your-own-adventure games
- think Netflixโs Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
- mobile games: download for free and spend in-app currency to unlock alternative story routes
bulleted version:
traditional stories start with โonce upon a timeโ ๐ง
Dorianโs interactive stories are different every time ๐
the basics
- industry: gaming, mobile app, storytelling
- headquarters: Walnut, CA
- year founded: 2018
- company size: < 50 ๐งณ
- notable investors: The Raine Group, March Capital (Gaming), Graham & Walker, Gaingels, LVP, VGames
- amount raised: $19.45m
- investment stage: series ๐ ฐ๏ธ
due diligence
what we like
-
๐ฅ a red hot gaming industry: media giants and FAANG are setting their sights on gaming, with the industry expected to add $150b to its value by 2027
- this will open up more partnership opportunities (late last year, they partnered with Lionsgate) ๐ฌ
-
๐ no publisher, no problem: today, getting your work out to the masses has never been easier
- authors can build off each othersโ work and earn constant revenue, all while avoiding the publishing house
- a new audience: while Dorian targets millions of mobile gamers worldwide, theyโre bringing authors and fiction fanatics to the gaming industry
potential risks
- narration saturation: with unlimited stories being created with the same gaming format, will users get bored?
- ๐ค getting writers on board: it may take some work to convince fiction writers to get into the online gaming industry
-
licensing issues: whether inspired by a Dorian writer or an outside story, new games must abide by copyright laws
- this has caused complications for companies in the past
founder profiles
- Julia Palatovska (prev. @ LVP, G5, QArea Group)
- Jordan Lee (prev. @ Megastar, Nexon, gloops)
comps
why Dorian: Dorian combines traditional writing with new media trends, giving fiction writers ownership and tools to expand their audiences and grow their careers ๐ฅ
