NODWIN GAMING has announced a series of strategic developments as it accelerates its path towards a public listing. The company has formally initiated a pre-IPO fundraising round while strengthening its leadership with the appointment of Arnd Benninghoff to its board of directors.
The fundraising round will include a mix of primary capital issuance to support global expansion through organic growth and strategic acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale aimed at providing liquidity to existing shareholders.
The move follows strong financial momentum for the company, which has returned to EBITDA profitability while recording a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue increase, reaching USD 58.5 million during the first nine months of FY2026.
UBS has been appointed as the lead advisor for both the pre-IPO round and the company’s planned public listing.
NODWIN’s growing international presence has been bolstered by its recent acquisition of StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser known for staging major AAA esports events such as Counter‑Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 Majors.
Following a successful co-ownership phase, the company also continues to serve as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the fighting game tournament, supporting its expansion into new markets.
Benninghoff joins the NODWIN Gaming board with more than a decade of strategic and entrepreneurial experience across the global gaming and media sectors. He currently serves as executive vice president of gaming at Modern Times Group (MTG), where he has overseen the company’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014.
His previous roles include chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media, managing director at SevenVentures, and CEO of Holtzbrinck eLAB. An entrepreneur who has founded and scaled fifteen companies, Benninghoff began his career as a journalist with Deutsche Presse‑Agentur and several television networks. He holds a Diplom-Kaufmann degree in Business Administration from the University of Münster and has previously served on the board of directors of Edgeware AB.
Benninghoff said, “I have long admired NODWIN Gaming’s incredible trajectory and its unique ability to build vibrant, community-first ecosystems in the world’s most dynamic markets. The company sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today. I am honored to join the Board and look forward to working closely with Akshat and the team to leverage my experience in strategic investment and digital media to help drive NODWIN’s next chapter of growth and innovation.”
NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said, “Arnd is a rare leader who understands the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios. His vision for the future of interactive entertainment aligns perfectly with our goal to become the definitive voice of gaming and youth culture in the Global South. Arnd’s insights will be invaluable as we continue to scale our IPs and explore new frontiers in youth entertainment. Arnd’s insights will be invaluable and we are thrilled to welcome Arnd to the NODWIN Gaming Board of Directors at such a pivotal moment in our global expansion.”
