Pranab Punj

CEO

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India23 yrs 8 mos experience

Most Likely To Switch

Key Highlights

Pioneered India's first AAA MMO Game launch.
Led major gaming franchises for top global brands.
Expert in gaming industry strategy and partnerships.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Gaming and Entertainment industry leader with extensive experience in strategic partnerships and business development.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Board GovernanceGaming IndustryBusiness DevelopmentMarketingWeb3AnimationStrategic Partnerships

Other Skills

Board of DirectorsMedia & EntertainmentComputer GamingStrategyInvestmentsCross-functional Team LeadershipGamingBlockchainBusiness-to-Business (B2B)Digital MediaMarketing CommunicationsBrand DevelopmentBrand ManagementProduct ManagementMarketing Strategy

About

Pranab Punj is a seasoned global business leader, entrepreneur, and board director with a proven track record of pioneering innovation in the gaming, media, and technology sectors. A trailblazer in the Indian and APAC gaming industries, he led the launch of several industry-firsts, including Ragnarok Online (India's first AAA MMO Game), Zapak.com (India's first homegrown video games brand), Ben 10 Omniverse: Rise of Heroes (the first Global MMO game from Cartoon Network), and major gaming and digital entertainment franchises across Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Warner Bro’s, TruTV, ComedyCentral, MTV, VH1 to name a few.

Experience

Xsolla

2 roles

Strategic Advisor, APAC

Promoted

Jun 2024 – Present · 1 yr 9 mos

Pranab Punj is the Strategic Advisor, APAC and Board Director, India at Xsolla, Inc. focusing on bringing the Xsolla game commerce and funding ecosystem to game developers, publishers, investors and strategic partners across India and larger South Asia region.
Xsolla's video game business engine helps game developers and publishers operate more efficiently and sell more games. Serving only the video game industry, Xsolla caters to businesses from indie to enterprise, with solutions that solve the complexities of distribution, marketing, and monetization so developers, publishers, and platform partners. Our goal is to increase your audience, sales and revenue.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices worldwide, Xsolla operates as a merchant and seller of record for major gaming entities like Valve, Twitch, Ubisoft, Epic Games, and PUBG Corporation.
To know more visit: http://www.xsolla.com

Board of DirectorsBoard Governance

Country Head, India

Oct 2023 – Jul 2024 · 9 mos

Pranab Punj is the Country Head, India at Xsolla (USA), Inc.
Xsolla's video game business engine helps game developers and publishers operate more efficiently and sell more games. Serving only the video game industry, Xsolla caters to businesses from indie to enterprise, with solutions that solve the complexities of distribution, marketing, and monetization so developers, publishers, and platform partners. Our goal is to increase your audience, sales and revenue.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices worldwide, Xsolla operates as a merchant and seller of record for major gaming entities like Valve, Twitch, Ubisoft, Epic Games, and PUBG Corporation.
To know more visit: http://www.xsolla.com

Media & EntertainmentComputer GamingWeb3MarketingStrategyBusiness Development+3

Video games , artificial intelligence and entertainment

Board Member | Investor

Dec 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 3 mos · India & UAE

Serving and have served as an Board Member, Advisor and Investor across multiple, high-growth companies across Video Games, AI, Media & Entertainment, founded by successful serial entrepreneurs.

Board of DirectorsBoard Governance

Ycn1 llc

Board Director

Jun 2022 – Jun 2023 · 1 yr · New York, United States

New Rainshine Global & Animasia Studios JV. I joined the board.
The company is building a web 3.0 multi-format content franchise based on a trilogy of
books, 'Young Captain Nemo' written by an accomplished author.

Web3AnimationGamingBoard of DirectorsBlockchainBusiness-to-Business (B2B)

Culture machine media pvt. ltd.

Board Director

May 2021 – Jun 2023 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

India's leading digital media company. I joined the Board.

Board of DirectorsBoard Governance

Pharma devi

Mentor & Investor

Mar 2020 – Present · 6 yrs · Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

- Angel Investor and Mentor to this fast-growing healthcare+content startup.

Board of DirectorsBoard Governance

Rainshine global inc.

Group CMO & Chief Business Development Officer

Nov 2017 – Sep 2023 · 5 yrs 10 mos · New York, Los Angeles, Mumbai & London.

Spearheaded strategic partnerships, business development, fundraising and marketing as a founding executive team member.
Established game-changing partnerships with top streaming and content powerhouses, resulting in a eight figure $ revenue and investment value.
On the board of directors of Culture Machine Media Pvt. Ltd. (India's leading YouTube MCN and digital content studio) and YCN1 LLC. (a multi-format Anime franchise based on Captain Nemo).

Board of DirectorsBoard GovernanceStrategyBusiness DevelopmentMarketing

Vserv

CMO

Sep 2014 – Oct 2017 · 3 yrs 1 mo · Mumbai Area, India

Global head of marketing and partnerships for this leading marketing technology company.
Helped build VMAX, a Game Developer-focused AdTech platform in India and SEA.
Played a key role in the team's successful fundraising efforts and building the brand globally.

Strategic PartnershipsInvestmentsBusiness-to-Business (B2B)

Viacom 18 media private limited

India Director of Digital Media

Dec 2012 – Aug 2014 · 1 yr 8 mos · Mumbai Area, India

Headed Product, Technology, and Marketing.
Launched a robust web/mobile gaming business under the Nickelodeon family of brands in record time.
Built a suite of popular digital entertainment products for iconic brands under the Viacom portfolio.

Strategic PartnershipsInvestmentsBusiness-to-Business (B2B)

Warner bros. discovery

Head of Interactive Media, South Asia

Jan 2009 – Nov 2012 · 3 yrs 10 mos · Mumbai Area, India

Built the digital media business from the ground up on the back of a games-led strategy.
Reengineered iconic kids brands, Cartoon Network and Pogo, to be the no 1 kids gaming
network in South Asia with a comprehensive web and mobile games backbone.
The website traffic grew by an aggressive 400% YoY and advertising revenues by 170% YoY.

Strategic PartnershipsBusiness-to-Business (B2B)

Zapak digital entertainment ltd

General Manager

May 2006 – Jan 2009 · 2 yrs 8 mos · Mumbai Area, India

Founding team member of this pioneering consumer gaming company in South Asia.
Spearheaded the creation the iconic gaming brand Zapak.com (100M+ downloads, 100+ gaming cafes).

Strategic Partnerships

Independent consultant

Sr. Consultant- Marketing & Brand Management

Sep 2005 – Apr 2006 · 7 mos

Independent consultant to gaming companies in India.
Lead usability consultant on multiple key web-based businesses in India.

Level up! games inc.

Marketing Manager

Mar 2004 – Aug 2005 · 1 yr 5 mos · Manila & Mumbai

Part of the founding team of Level Up Games in India.
Brand Manager of 'Ragnarok Online', India’s First Massively Multiplayer Online Game.
Forged the first strategic alliance for Level Up with India's largest internet retail chain.