Neonga Raises $2.8 Million, Hires Ex-Frogster Marketer

Neonga, the free-to-play game company formed by Frogster's ex-CEO, has raised €2 million ($2.8 million) in Series A funding and added another Frogster veteran, Stefan Hinz, to its staff as chief marketing officer. The Berlin-based publisher, which will begin launching its first downloadable, browser-based games for Facebook and mobile in early 2011, secured this first round of funding from a consortium of private investors, including High-Tech Grunderfonds and VC Fund Creative Industries Berlin. Neonga plans to devote this new cash to developing its infrastructure, staff, catalog, and marketing power so that it can "play a significant role in the booming online gaming market." Founded in July, the firm is led by chief executive officer Rolf Kloppel, chief technical director Benjamin Kaiser, and now chief marketing officer Stefan Hinz -- all of whom serve on Neonga's board of directors and have previously worked at German publisher Frogster (Runes of Magic) in similar positions. "Neonga offers the creative breeding ground for the development of new strategies for marketing and customer relations, with deep-going know-how about online games, customers and global markets." says Hinz. The new CMO adds, "Strong tools for building customer loyalty, fair and attractive partnerships and innovative games will make Neonga AG stand out in the international online games market. A new star is born!"