Tomoland raises $2M to build AI-powered gaming platform on Web3

What's the deal? Tomoland, a mobile-first user-generated content (UGC) gaming platform, has raised $2 million to merge its existing mobile gaming technology with Web3 infrastructure. The round was led by Sky9 CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, with participation from WAGMI VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Aureus DealersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, plus angel investors from Meta, Depinx Capital, Netease, and Virtuals.

Following the raise, Tomoland launched its Blueprint Founder Pass on May 7 — a free-claim ERC-721 digital asset on Ethereum. All 2,222 passes sold out in two hours, landing the collection on OpenSea's main page and in its top five trending projects.

Why now? Tomoland is a partner of BUD World, a platform with over 30 million combined downloads on Google Play and the App Store. It aims to layer Web3 ownership mechanics — tokenised maps, AI tools, and user-generated content — on top of that proven mobile foundation. The core team includes veterans of AAA studios like Tencent and NetEase.

"Our vision has always been to bridge Web2 and Web3 in a way that feels accessible and rewarding for everyone involved," said Darren, chief marketing officer of Tomoland.

The platform is introducing what it calls Trustless Open Market Ownership (TOMO) — an open system where gameplay mechanics, maps, and UGC carry real value for the community.

What could go wrong? Web3 gaming has a rough track record. Many projects have struggled to retain players once token incentives dry up. Tomoland's reliance on NFT passes and airdrop mechanics echoes strategies that have previously led to speculative frenzies followed by sharp user drop-offs.

The project also faces scepticism from mainstream gamers who remain wary of blockchain integration in gaming — a sentiment reinforced by high-profile failures in the space.

The signal: Sky9 Capital, the round's lead, is an investment fund with a broader portfolio beyond crypto-native plays, suggesting that Tomoland's pitch resonated on the strength of its existing mobile traction rather than Web3 hype alone. The mix of a traditional VC lead alongside Web3-focused participants like WAGMI Ventures and corporate investor Aureus Dealers points to a funding model that straddles both worlds — mirroring the product's own Web2-to-Web3 bridge thesis.

Read more: 36crypto.com