Seattle, WA – November 12, 2024 - Starform, a Seattle-based game studio founded by former King and Z2 veterans, today announced it has raised $6 million in a funding round led by BITKRAFT Ventures. The investment will help Starform expand its team and reach new players for Metalstorm, the hit air-combat arena shooter with over 3 million players across the Epic Games Store, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store. Metalstorm is coming to additional platforms in early 2025, bringing the aerial action experience to an even wider audience. Those wishing to join Starform’s team can visit the studio’s careers page.
The funding round saw additional participation from BITKRAFT Ventures and Dune Ventures. Prior to this, Starform raised over $13M to date, with backing from Global Founders Capital, 1Up Ventures, PlayVentures, and various angel investors from across the industry.
Starform is a Seattle-based independent game studio led by CEO Lou Fasulo and Co-founders Taylor Daynes and Jason English, with more than 36 years of industry experience from high-profile studios Sierra Online, Z2 and King. The team’s mission is to create extraordinary gaming experiences that unite friends and foster community. Starform has recently expanded with industry veterans:
Metalstorm is Starform’s first "coffee break esport" title featuring 5v5 team-based gameplay. Players form Squadrons—also known as guilds—and engage in fast-paced battles where planes are the heroes. Each aircraft comes with unique abilities inspired by their historical roles, enhanced with creative license to foster fun, role-based synergies and generate highlight reel-worthy moments.
"We believe in crafting short-session experiences that unite players across platforms," said Lou Fasulo, CEO and Co-founder of Starform." Metalstorm is all about facilitating connections—whether among friends or new acquaintances—through shared, thrilling gameplay that fits seamlessly into busy schedules."
“Starform’s vision for accessible, cross-platform multiplayer competitive gaming is compelling,” said Malte Barth, Founding Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures. “After the launch in November 2023 and more than 3M players, Metalstorm exemplifies how deeply engaging team-based play and innovative game design can create meaningful and long-term connections among players. Starform demonstrates a scalable business model, and we’re excited to support their journey in bringing this experience to a global audience.”
About Starform
Starform is an independent game studio based in Seattle, founded in 2018 with a mission to create extraordinary gaming experiences that unite friends and foster community. Their debut title, Metalstorm, is an air-combat 5v5 arena shooter that delivers high-octane action in the world's most iconic aircrafts across diverse environments. The team consists of industry veterans from top studios such as Riot Games, King, 343, Evil Geniuses, Z2, The Pokémon Company, and EA, bringing a wealth of experience in game design, live service operations, esports, and community engagement. For more information or learning about careers with Starform, please visit https://www.starform.co/
About BITKRAFT Ventures
BITKRAFT Ventures is the global early-stage investment platform for gaming, Web3, and immersive technology, with assets under management totaling over $1 billion and 130+ companies in their portfolio. With a focus on Seed, Series A, and Series B investments across the spectrum of interactive media, BITKRAFT is at the forefront of the Synthetic Reality™ tech revolution, where physical and digital worlds converge. For a full list of public investments made to date, view BITKRAFT’s portfolio here.
The funding round saw additional participation from BITKRAFT Ventures and Dune Ventures. Prior to this, Starform raised over $13M to date, with backing from Global Founders Capital, 1Up Ventures, PlayVentures, and various angel investors from across the industry.
Starform is a Seattle-based independent game studio led by CEO Lou Fasulo and Co-founders Taylor Daynes and Jason English, with more than 36 years of industry experience from high-profile studios Sierra Online, Z2 and King. The team’s mission is to create extraordinary gaming experiences that unite friends and foster community. Starform has recently expanded with industry veterans:
- Stefan Ramirez, Chief Operating Officer, who has held leadership roles at King, EnMasse Entertainment, and Riot Games.
- Chris Hager, Director of Production, former Production Leader at 343 Industries, Riot Games, and King.
- Jeremy Friesen, Principal Engineer formerly from the Pokemon Company and Big Fish Games.
- Jesse Roberts, Social Media Marketing, who led social media marketing initiatives at Evil Geniuses and EsportsOne.
Metalstorm is Starform’s first "coffee break esport" title featuring 5v5 team-based gameplay. Players form Squadrons—also known as guilds—and engage in fast-paced battles where planes are the heroes. Each aircraft comes with unique abilities inspired by their historical roles, enhanced with creative license to foster fun, role-based synergies and generate highlight reel-worthy moments.
"We believe in crafting short-session experiences that unite players across platforms," said Lou Fasulo, CEO and Co-founder of Starform." Metalstorm is all about facilitating connections—whether among friends or new acquaintances—through shared, thrilling gameplay that fits seamlessly into busy schedules."
“Starform’s vision for accessible, cross-platform multiplayer competitive gaming is compelling,” said Malte Barth, Founding Partner at BITKRAFT Ventures. “After the launch in November 2023 and more than 3M players, Metalstorm exemplifies how deeply engaging team-based play and innovative game design can create meaningful and long-term connections among players. Starform demonstrates a scalable business model, and we’re excited to support their journey in bringing this experience to a global audience.”
About Starform
Starform is an independent game studio based in Seattle, founded in 2018 with a mission to create extraordinary gaming experiences that unite friends and foster community. Their debut title, Metalstorm, is an air-combat 5v5 arena shooter that delivers high-octane action in the world's most iconic aircrafts across diverse environments. The team consists of industry veterans from top studios such as Riot Games, King, 343, Evil Geniuses, Z2, The Pokémon Company, and EA, bringing a wealth of experience in game design, live service operations, esports, and community engagement. For more information or learning about careers with Starform, please visit https://www.starform.co/
About BITKRAFT Ventures
BITKRAFT Ventures is the global early-stage investment platform for gaming, Web3, and immersive technology, with assets under management totaling over $1 billion and 130+ companies in their portfolio. With a focus on Seed, Series A, and Series B investments across the spectrum of interactive media, BITKRAFT is at the forefront of the Synthetic Reality™ tech revolution, where physical and digital worlds converge. For a full list of public investments made to date, view BITKRAFT’s portfolio here.