Astra Nova Secures USD 48.3M to Scale AI-Driven Web3 Entertainment Tools
Riyadh-based Astra Nova has raised USD 48.3 million to expand its AI-powered Web3 entertainment and creator infrastructure. USD 41.6 million comes from a recent round, alongside earlier backing from Outlier Ventures, family offices, and institutional investors across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.
Founded by Muhamed Ashhar and Faizy Ahmed, the company builds tools that let creators launch interactive, tokenized experiences without writing code. The aim: speed up product delivery for creator platforms while keeping community ownership and monetization in the hands of users.
Why this matters for product leaders
- No-code + AI + blockchain is moving from concept to packaged tooling, reducing time-to-market for interactive experiences.
- Distribution via Telegram and web platforms lowers onboarding friction and unlocks fast iteration cycles.
- Strategic cloud and ecosystem partners de-risk scale and compliance as teams move across regions.
What they're building
- TokenPlay AI: A no-code builder for mini-apps, powered by Alibaba Cloud, to launch interactive utilities and tokenized features quickly.
- NovaToon: A Web3 webtoon platform where fans co-create stories via NFTs and own digital collectibles tied to narrative arcs.
- Deviants: Fight Club: A Telegram-based PvP game integrating Astra Nova's RVV token for in-game rewards and community engagement loops.
- BlackPass: An on-chain engagement and loyalty layer with over 250,000 users to date, supporting retention and reward mechanics.
Go-to-market and traction
The platform's user base has crossed 250,000, driven by Telegram distribution and community-first experiences. Partnerships with NEOM, NVIDIA Inception, and Alibaba Cloud support scale, AI capability, and enterprise-grade infrastructure.
The company plans to expand across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, with a focus on product acceleration, team growth, and regulatory readiness.
Product strategy notes
- Focus on creator simplicity: No-code primitives reduce dependency on custom engineering, enabling faster test-learn cycles.
- Own the community layer: Tokens, loyalty passes, and co-creation tools align incentives and increase retention.
- Meet users where they are: Telegram mini-apps and web tooling simplify onboarding vs. forcing new platforms.
- Cloud leverage: Offload infra variability to partners; use managed services for scale and data pipelines.
- Compliance by design: Build region-aware token and custody flows; plan for KYC/AML and content IP controls early.
Architecture and integration considerations
- Wallet UX: Offer both custodial and non-custodial options; default to email/social sign-in with seamless wallet creation.
- Event-driven core: Use an event bus for gameplay, rewards, and loyalty triggers; persist on-chain checkpoints asynchronously.
- Token economy design: Separate utility and governance functions; cap emission; align rewards with measurable contribution.
- Creator toolchain: Templates for story arcs, quests, drops, and analytics. Ship prebuilt modules to shorten setup.
- Fraud and abuse controls: Bot filtering, sybil detection, and staking/allowlist mechanisms to protect incentives.
What to watch next
- KPIs: Creator activation rate, day-7/30 retention, dollar-based net expansion, and cost per engaged wallet.
- Compliance milestones: Licensing and token frameworks across target markets in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
- Partner unlocks: AI model access via ecosystem partners and regional distribution through NEOM-linked networks.
Funding snapshot
Total raised: USD 48.3 million, including USD 41.6 million from the latest round. Prior support includes Outlier Ventures and regional investors in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.
For product teams: how to act on this
- Pilot a creator-facing no-code module; measure time-to-first-launch and engagement lift vs. custom builds.
- Test a Telegram mini-app funnel for distribution and onboarding; compare CAC and retention against web-only flows.
- Run a loyalty pass experiment with clear sinks/sources; tie rewards to actions that compound network value.
- Draft a regional compliance checklist and token policy; align product and legal review gates per release.
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