Jest, the first marketplace for messaging apps that use texting protocols SMS and RCS, has launched the Jest Games Fund to support studios building games “for the RCS messaging ecosystem” that can be published on its platform.
With “no equity taken or IPs transferred,” successful bids can make use of the fund and keep 90% of revenue, while Jest “subsidizes 100% of text delivery costs.”
The scheme boasts three tiers of funding – Explore, which offers $40,000 investment, Scale, which funds up to $200,000, and Flagship, which helps scale breakout hits up to $1 million – all of which consist of a user acquisition budget, onboarding services, and “hands-on partner support,” including a dedicated Slack channel.
The fund also provides “onboardings,” which Jest describes as “short, interactive experiences, similar to playable ads, adapted for messaging games on Jest.”
“If you’re accepted into the fund, we’ll create these onboarding experiences to drive user acquisition for your game,” the company said.
In return, Jest receives “an increased platform revenue share in accordance with the Jest Platform Economics,” the details of which can be found on the website.
The game doesn’t have to be new or unpublished, as “existing games can be published on Jest, including titles already live on other platforms. The primary requirement is a mobile web build that integrates with the Jest SDK.”
“The Jest Games Fund is structured as progression stages rather than fixed tiers,” the company added. “Most games begin in Explore to validate performance on Jest. Some studios may qualify for Scale immediately based on product maturity, performance signals, and overall fit. Advancement through Scale and Flagship is driven by performance.”
The inaugural cohort will close on April 15.
