Pokémon Go dev Niantic chocks up another $5m in funding

The developer of incoming AR monster-catching mobile game Pokémon Go has added to its already impressive funding total.

Niantic is best-known as the creator of previous AR title Ingress, and counts companies including Google, Nintendo and – unsurprisingly – The Pokémon Company among its backers.

Niantic was formed as a part of Google, before achieving independence last year.

Those firms have already contributed $20 million, which has now been bolstered with a further $5 million from firms such as Alsop Louie Partners, You & Mr Jones and Fuji TV, plus angel investors Cyan and Scott Banister, and Lucas Nealan.

As a result of the latest Series A financing, Alsop partner Gilman Louie has become the latest addition to Niantic’s board of directors.

"Niantic was founded on the concept of building interactive experiences using mobile technology to encourage people to engage with the world around them," said CEO John Hanke.

"We’ve seen players accomplish amazing things and we expect this to continue with the launch of Pokémon Go later this year. I’m delighted to be adding this set of partners to the Niantic family. Each brings a unique capability to our team."