Zeedz.io, a play-for-purpose game where players fight global carbon emissions by collecting plant-inspired creatures, or Zeedles, announced a €950k seed round and the launch of F2P game, Zeedz, on both Android and iOS app stores worldwide. The investment was led by the panelists of Germany’s Shark Tank, Die Hohle der Lowen, which includes notable entrepreneurs and investors such as Carsten Maschmeyer, Tillman Schulz, and Dagmar Wöhrl. Zeedz.io is the only startup in the show’s history to close unanimous funding from all five celebrity judges. The funding will be used to scale and market the game to a global audience, driving broad awareness for climate change.
Founded in 2021, Zeedz.io is on a mission to create fun and nostalgic gameplay experiences that lead to awareness and real-world climate protection. The company’s first game, Zeedz, starts with players planting their Zeedle on a real-world map, connecting gameplay with current environmental factors. Different Zeedles require specific weather conditions, prompting players to use in-game educational resources to learn about climate zones and actionable tips for reducing emissions. As Zeedles hatch and grow, they evolve based on real-time weather and user care, enabling players to see the direct impact that weather has on their creatures. Players can also lead Zeedles into battle and fight against enemies sent by the Evil Lord CO the 2nd.
Starting October 16th, Zeedz will be available to play for free on Android and iOS app stores worldwide. An NFT version is also available for players, with a straightforward onboarding process. If interested, players can easily purchase Zeedle NFTs using PayPal or a credit card through a standard eCommerce checkout, eliminating the need for a separate wallet in the purchasing process. In addition to the app launch, physical trading cards will be available for pre-order, and will open up the green magical world of Zeedz to analog, geared towards younger enthusiasts. Players can now download Zeedz on iOS and Andriod.
The financial contributions created by the players are designated to specifically defined, evaluated and audited non-profit projects that focus on reducing global emissions of CO2, turning players’ progress into direct emission reductions. Ten percent of the company’s earnings and 50% of all Marketplace profits fund green projects all around the globe in collaboration with Zeedz’ sustainability partner The Gold Standard.
“The world confronts a monumental challenge in climate change, and yet, the dialogue surrounding it can feel overwhelming, polarizing and overly patronizing. With Zeedz, we wanted to build a fun and engaging gameplay experience that addressed climate change awareness in a gamified way. Our objective isn’t to prescribe actions, but to allow players to organically acquire knowledge and hopefully make informed decisions for our environment. Through the power of gaming and multiple media forms including mobile apps and physical card games, we hope to combine entertainment with purpose, creating positive change and fostering a better understanding of the world we live in,” said Sven Junglas, Co-Founder & CEO of Zeedz.
“Zeedz is revolutionizing the gaming industry for a good cause,” said Carsten Maschmeyer, panel member of Die Hohle der Lowen. “It is the first game of its kind to generate financial contributions for non-profit organizations and have a clear intent on how to raise awareness on global warming. It combines in-game challenges with real- world weather phenomena. That immediately excited us judges.”
