Scorbit, a platform merging classic and modern arcade experiences online, closed a $5 million seed round led by Detroit Venture Partners, with participation from Grand Ventures, Weiser Family Office, Michigan Rise / Red Cedar, Invest Detroit Ventures, Eberg Capital, Ann Arbor SPARK Capital, Mudita Venture Fund II LLC, Precursor Ventures, Side Door Ventures, Wakestream, Gambit Ventures, and multiple angel investors.
Notable investors from the pre-seed round include Matthew Prince (Cloudflare), Matt Mullenweg (Automattic), Marissa Mayer (Sunshine, Google, Yahoo), Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers), Bevan Slattery (Megaport, Superloop, NEXTDC), Rob Hayes (First Round Capital), Robert Abbott (HashiCorp), and Jordan Lowe (ServerCentral).
Co-founded by Jay Adelson, founder of Equinix and Digg, and Ron Richards, former Marvel/Disney executive, Scorbit connects physical play with digital competition, blending nostalgia with modern innovation.
Seed funding supports expansion of the Ann Arbor team, MVP completion, and R&D for new hardware, including the Scorbit Console (B2B platform for venues), and enhanced app features for payments, competitions, and global gameplay. Jared Stasik joins the board, and Nathan Owen joins as board observer.
“This investment underscores what we’ve believed all along: Michigan is still one of the most inventive places on earth,” said Stasik. “Scorbit is transforming nostalgia into a modern, connected experience and putting the Midwest at the center of the next chapter in social gaming.”
“Scorbit’s platform is proving the massive opportunity in reimagining physical play for the digital era,” said Owen. “It’s not just about connecting machines, it’s about connecting people.”
Beta launch shows strong market demand, with venue interest up over 500 percent and double-digit growth in user engagement.
“We’re seeing incredible excitement from operators and players,” said Adelson. “Bars, arcades, and entertainment venues are looking for ways to bring people back together. Scorbit is giving them a platform to do that while unlocking new revenue and social experiences.”
Scorbit operates within the $6.1 billion U.S. arcade, food, and entertainment market and the $24.15 billion global arcade games market, projected to grow 5.6 percent annually through 2030. Integrated gaming can boost bar revenue, with arcades generating additional income.
Based in Michigan with a growing Ann Arbor team, Scorbit exemplifies Midwestern innovation combining creativity, technology, and entertainment. Scorbit plans a Series A round in 2026 to expand partnerships, scale nationally, and continue proving that the future of play is connected.