Nordic Tech Startup Studio555 has raised 4 million euros seed funding to build a new kind of app that mixes interior design with the feel of mobile games. Ideas? The creativity around home decor is more playful, sociable and easy to access by people who don’t normally touch design software.
The round is co-led by US-based investment firms HOF Capital and Failup Ventures, with offices in both New York and Helsinki. Several major names in the gaming industry also participated. These include Timo Soininen (co-founder of Small Giant Games), Mikko Kodisoja (co-founder of Supercell) and Riccardo Zacconi (co-founder of King).
Studio555 said it will use fresh capital injections to build products, expand its team and prepare for launches in both Europe and the US.
Studio555 was founded in 2023 by a Swedish finishing team with deep roots in both game and design. Founding Trio – Joll Ruth (CEO), Stina Larson (CTO), Axel Ulberger (CPO) – are bling experiences from key players such as King, Y, and Rovio. Ruth comes from an interior background, but Larson and Ulberger were part of the team behind the success of Candy Crush Saga.
The apps they are building take a different approach to home design. Instead of complex tools and traditional software, users are dropped into interactive spaces, allowing several swipes and taps to personalize the room. It’s casual and visual, no design or game background required.
Roos explains the following concepts: “At Studio555, we rethink interior design as something that anyone can explore. It’s open-ended, playful, personal. We’re building an experience that we want to be in all the time.
Larson, a leading engineering team, added: “We know what it takes to build and scale millions of players. Now we apply real engineering mindset, real time tracking, live insights and decision-making to provide a high-performance creative platform that doesn’t compromise speed or stability.”
Ullberger says the team “bring the magic of the game into a space that has never really felt playful before. Our goal is to completely rethink the app for interior lovers.”
The pitch clearly resonates with some of the game’s most successful founders.
“Studio555 combines the talent of top-class games with design vision,” said Timo Soininen, investor and co-founder of Small Giant Games. “This team has previously built a global hit, but now they apply that experience to something completely fresh. Thinking about Pinterest in 3D is meeting Tiktok, but for interior decor.”
Ricardo Zacconi, King’s co-founder and one of his early supporters, emphasized his belief in the people behind the idea. “I have always believed in investing in people first.
Topias Soininen, general partner at Failup Ventures, sees this as more than just another design app.
Studio555 is trying to change how people think about home design, not only is it building new apps. By making it visual, interactive and easy to pick up, the team hopes to attract a wider crowd, from enthusiasts and casual gamers to people who love interior design and don’t like the usual tools.
🚀Want to share the story?
Submit your stories to TechStartUps.com in front of thousands of founders, investors, PE companies, tech executives, decision makers and tech leaders.
Please attract attention
Source link
