Funding · Commerce & Consumer Brands

ARC raises ₹10.5 crore for portable gaming system

By Startup Enthusiast · 8 September 2026

What they do

ARC develops the ARC X1, a portable gaming console built on Qualcomm chips and an internal OWL OS operating system

The venture took in ₹10.5 crore in pre-seed backing from Chimera VC and MIXI Global Investments to prepare for device production

Hardware ventures remain uncommon in India, where most local gaming capital traditionally flows into software apps and fantasy gaming platforms

Hardware developer ARC collected ₹10.5 crore in an opening pre-seed capital intake.
Venture firms Chimera VC and MIXI Global Investments spearheaded the investment.
Meta APAC executive Dhruv Vohra backed the round in an individual investor capacity.
The business is building the ARC X1, a handheld gaming unit powered by Qualcomm components.
The device runs OWL OS, a bespoke operating environment crafted from AOSP (Android Open Source Project).
The handheld handles local Android titles, streams cloud games, and runs PC releases through internal software.
More than 50,000 prospective buyers have joined the waiting list for the device.

The worldwide market for handheld gaming devices reached $3.89 billion during 2025.
Indian gaming investments overwhelmingly flow into software formats such as fantasy contests and real-money apps.
Physical device creators remain extremely uncommon within India's venture-backed gaming landscape.

ARC develops dedicated mobile gaming machines designed for domestic consumers.
The company deploys an ARM-based architecture in its portable hardware.
Its device targets players in India, where dedicated console ownership remains sparse.
The firm teamed up with chip designer Qualcomm before the commercial debut.
The team invites players into testing groups to gather product feedback.
No formal release date has been set for the public debut.

Proceeds will support hardware engineering, validation, and manufacturing setup.
ARC will allocate money toward establishing its supply chain and advancing OWL OS.
The team plans to recruit new staff and create go-to-market distribution partnerships.

Chimera VC (lead) — Represented in the round by Managing Partner Krish Anurag.
MIXI Global Investments (lead) — Represented by Tomoharu Urabe.
Dhruv Vohra (angel) — Director at Meta APAC who invested in a personal capacity.

Product: ARC X1 portable gaming system with proprietary OWL OS operating system for gaming
Customers: Indian gamers seeking affordable portable gaming hardware
How it makes money: Hardware sales of portable gaming systems with proprietary software stack
What sets it apart: In-house hardware and software development with ARM architecture and cloud gaming support