NODWIN Gaming, a global leader in gaming, esports, and youth entertainment, has announced a series of strategic milestones as it moves closer to a public listing. The company has initiated a pre-IPO fundraising round and strengthened its leadership with the appointment of Arnd Benninghoff to its Board of Directors.
The fundraising round will include a mix of primary issuance to support global expansion through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, along with a secondary sale that will provide liquidity to existing shareholders. The move comes as the company reports strong financial performance, returning to EBITDA profitability and recording a 42% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching USD 58.5 million in the first nine months of FY 2026.
Benninghoff brings more than a decade of strategic and entrepreneurial leadership in the global gaming and media sectors. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of Gaming at Modern Times Group (MTG), where he has led strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. His previous roles include Chief Digital Officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, Managing Director of SevenVentures, and CEO of Holtzbrinck eLAB. Over the course of his career, he has founded and built fifteen companies and began his professional journey as a journalist with Deutsche Presse-Agentur and various television networks. Benninghoff holds a Diplom-Kaufmann degree in Business and Administration from the University of Münster and has previously served on the Board of Directors of Edgeware AB.
As a leading force in the Global South, NODWIN Gaming has evolved from a regional esports company into an international player operating across South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The company has built a diverse ecosystem spanning esports, gaming, music, and youth culture.
Arnd Benninghoff, Executive Vice President of Gaming, MTG said, “I have long admired NODWIN Gaming’s incredible trajectory and its unique ability to build vibrant, community-first ecosystems in the world’s most dynamic markets. The company sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today. I am honored to join the Board and look forward to working closely with Akshat and the team to leverage my experience in strategic investment and digital media to help drive NODWIN’s next chapter of growth and innovation.”
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming said, “Arnd is a rare leader who understands the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios. His vision for the future of interactive entertainment aligns perfectly with our goal to become the definitive voice of gaming and youth culture in the Global South. Arnd’s insights will be invaluable as we continue to scale our IPs and explore new frontiers in youth entertainment. Arnd’s insights will be invaluable and we are thrilled to welcome Arnd to the NODWIN Gaming Board of Directors at such a pivotal moment in our global expansion.”
NODWIN’s global footprint has expanded through key partnerships and acquisitions, including the recent acquisition of StarLadder, a Ukraine-based tournament organiser known for producing major events for games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. The company also continues to serve as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), one of the world’s most prominent fighting game tournaments.
With a growing portfolio that includes properties such as DreamHack India and Comic Con India, NODWIN Gaming aims to connect global gaming publishers with rapidly expanding youth audiences across emerging markets.
