a note from us
- ππππ ππππ π ππππ, there lived an author with a dilemma
- she just finished the greatest work of fiction; however, she couldnβt help but think: βwhat if the plot went another direction insteadβ π
- 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 weekβs company gives fiction writers the tools to play out all their ideas πΎ
in a sentence
Dorian is a no-code interactive storytelling platform that allows fiction writers to create mobile games from their work
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interactive storytelling: authors turn their tales into choose-your-own-adventure games
- think Netflixβs Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
- mobile games: download for free and spend in-app currency to unlock alternative story routes
bulleted version:
traditional stories start with βonce upon a timeβ π§
Dorianβs interactive stories are different every time π
the basics
- industry: gaming, mobile app, storytelling
- headquarters: Walnut, CA
- year founded: 2018
- company size: < 50 π§³
- notable investors: The Raine Group, March Capital (Gaming), Graham & Walker, Gaingels, LVP, VGames
- amount raised: $19.45m
- investment stage: series π °οΈ
due diligence
what we like
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π₯ 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) π¬
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π no publisher, no problem: today, getting your work out to the masses has never been easier
- authors can build off each othersβ work and earn constant revenue, all while avoiding the publishing house
- a new audience: while Dorian targets millions of mobile gamers worldwide, theyβre 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?
- π€ getting writers on board: it may take some work to convince fiction writers to get into the online gaming industry
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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 π₯