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Voodoo
Voodoo is a Paris-based mobile gaming publisher with 8B+ downloads and $670M in 2024 revenue, operating a data-driven, asset-light model.
Voodoo
Founded by Alexandre Yazdi and Laurent Ritter, Voodoo operates as a global tech company headquartered in Paris. The firm generates revenue through in-app advertising and in-app purchases across its portfolio of mobile games, which has accumulated over 8 billion total downloads and reached 150 million monthly active users. Its publishing arm provides user-acquisition, monetization, and data-analytics infrastructure to external development studios, creating a flywheel where it can test thousands of game prototypes annually and scale the winners. Voodoo's strategy centers on the hyper-casual and casual mobile game markets, with hit titles including the strategy game "Mob Control" and the puzzle title "Block Jam 3D." It has expanded into social and competitive gaming through apps like "Wizz" and "BeReal" — the latter acquired in 2024 — alongside a real-money gaming vertical called "Blitz." The firm reports $670 million in 2024 revenue, making it one of the largest mobile publishers in Europe by topline. Its model relies on rapid prototyping and data-driven user acquisition, compressing the time from concept to global launch. Voodoo employs roughly 800 people. Beyond its Paris headquarters, the firm engages a global network of third-party developers through its Voodoo Publishing and Voodoo Academy programs, which train and fund independent creators. The firm does not disclose a traditional fund structure or external allocators, operating instead as a privately held operating company. Unlike a traditional venture capital firm or private equity fund, Voodoo functions as an integrated publisher and platform — a hybrid operating company that provides development studios with capital, technology, and distribution in exchange for a share of game revenue. This structural posture means its economics are tied to operating income rather than management fees or carried interest, a model that incentivizes deep operational involvement in its portfolio of live games and social apps.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
France
City
Paris
Corporate office
Paris, France
Principals
Alexandre Yazdi
Co-Founder & CEO
Laurent Ritter
Co-Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Voodoo?
Voodoo does not operate as a fund that makes external investments. The firm is a privately held operating company. Strategic decisions, including studio acquisitions and product scaling, are led by Co-Founder and CEO Alexandre Yazdi, who co-founded the company with Laurent Ritter.
How does Voodoo source proprietary deal flow?
Voodoo's deal flow is a function of its publishing platform. The firm receives thousands of game prototypes each year from independent developers, evaluates them using internal data analytics and user-acquisition testing, then scales the strongest performers. This process functions as a proprietary sourcing engine for new games and studio relationships.
Is Voodoo structured as a venture capital firm or a gaming company?
Voodoo operates as a technology and entertainment company, not as a venture capital firm. It generates operating revenue from its portfolio of mobile games and social apps, rather than earning management fees or carried interest from a committed capital pool. Its publishing model provides operational support and capital to developers in exchange for a revenue share.
Does Voodoo participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Voodoo is not structured as a limited partner in external funds. It operates by identifying, developing, and publishing mobile titles through its own platform and studio partnerships. The company selectively acquires applications — such as the 2024 acquisition of BeReal — to enter adjacent social-media markets.
What investment stages does Voodoo typically target?
Voodoo targets early-stage mobile game concepts, providing seed-level publishing support to independent developers through its Voodoo Publishing and Academy programs. The firm focuses on rapid prototyping and scaling, backing titles at the concept-to-launch stage rather than investing in mature companies.
How is Voodoo related to BeReal?
Voodoo acquired the social media platform BeReal in June 2024. The deal marked Voodoo's expansion beyond gaming into social networking, bringing the photo-sharing app into its portfolio of consumer applications.
What is Voodoo's known posture on co-investments alongside external partners?
Voodoo does not publicly offer co-investment opportunities to outside allocators. The firm operates as a standalone company that finances its publishing and acquisition activities through its own balance sheet and operating cash flows rather than through a third-party fund structure.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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