B
Backbone
Creating the software and devices platform for the future of gaming—specifically cloud game streaming and core gaming on mobile devices
About Backbone
Backbone is a dynamic startup that operates in the mobile gaming industry, providing a unique solution for gamers who want to enhance their mobile gaming experience. The company offers a specialized gaming controller called Backbone One, which is designed to be compatible with iPhones. This controller transforms a smartphone into a portable gaming console, allowing users to play a wide variety of games with improved control and comfort.
Backbone primarily serves individual gamers who are passionate about mobile gaming, including casual players and professional e-sports athletes. The company also appeals to content creators who want to record, edit, and share their gameplay seamlessly. The market Backbone operates in is the rapidly growing mobile gaming sector, which has seen significant expansion due to the increasing popularity of mobile games and advancements in mobile technology.
The business model of Backbone revolves around the sale of its hardware product, the Backbone One controller. Additionally, the company offers a subscription service called Backbone+, which provides users with enhanced features such as advanced recording and editing tools, cloud storage for gameplay clips, and access to exclusive content and community events. This dual revenue stream—hardware sales and subscription services—enables Backbone to generate consistent income while fostering a loyal customer base.
Backbone makes money by selling its gaming controllers directly to consumers through its website and other retail channels. The subscription service, Backbone+, provides a recurring revenue stream, ensuring ongoing financial stability and growth potential. By offering a high-quality product and valuable services, Backbone aims to capture a significant share of the mobile gaming market and build a strong brand presence.
Source: Dealroom company dataAt a glance
- Status
- Operational
- Founded
- 2018
- Headquarters
- Palo Alto, United States
- Employees
- 72
- Open positions
- None listed
- Dealroom signal
- 15.1/100
- Industry
- Gaming
- Sub-industry
- Mobile Gaming, Console & PC Gaming
- Sector
- Consumer Services, Cloud Computing
- Business model
- SaaS
- Client focus
- b2c
Knowledge graph
More headlines
Funding history
Company financing events and reported valuations.
| Deal type | Date | Amount | Valuation | Investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERIES BEquity / VC | Jun 2024 | $0 | — | FJ Labs | — |
| SERIES A✓Equity / VC | Feb 2022 | $40M | $160M | Jason Citron · Ashton Kutcher · Nick Fajt · Amy Schumer | ↗ |
Financials
Revenue, earnings and other financial measures where available. Years marked “E” are estimates.
Growth signals
Latest recorded traffic for Backbone is 280K monthly website visits, down 22.2% over the last three months. Backbone's team declined 28.7% over the past year.
Similar companies
Company identity and context are open; selected comparison metrics preview what is available on the platform.
Investments and acquisitions
Recent portfolio relationships for companies that also act as investors or acquirers.
Investors
From Dealroom's funding and investor records, grouped by the round each investor first entered.
Seed1 investor entered at this stage
Adjacent
Series A12 investors entered at this stage
Index Ventures
Jason Citron
Ashton Kutcher
Nick Fajt- ASAmy Schumer
Kevin Hart
The Weeknd- PMPost Malone
- SCSean Combs
- DMDJ Marshmello
- PSPatrick Spence
FJ Labs
Other known investors5 additional known investors
359 Capital
BoxGroup
Habitat Partners
Left Lane Capital
Ludlow Ventures
Source: Dealroom Talent Intelligence.
Global footprint
team presence
Market sentiment
An AI-synthesised read of the highest-engagement posts about Backbone on X, ranked by likes and reposts, corporate channels excluded.
Reading the room on X — pulling top posts and synthesizing themes…
Source: X recent search ranked by engagement (likes + retweets) · Synthesis by Claude · Cached for 1 hour
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