Second Quest Levels Up: Winning at Startup MahaRathi 2025

Second Quest wins big at Startup Mahakumbh 2025! Discover how this simulation game studio is putting India on the global map for creator-driven gaming.

Second Quest recently celebrated a significant achievement at Startup Mahakumbh 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, between April 3rd to 5th, 2025. We're excited to announce that we secured two major accolades: winning the Bharat Tech Triumph Program (BTTP) Edition 3 and emerging victorious in the Startup MahaRathi Challenge within the Gaming & Sports category.

This recognition is a powerful affirmation for our team, our objectives, and the expanding gaming community we are fostering. We are delighted to share this success with the India Entertainment Industry Council (IEIC) community and all those who support India's vibrant creative and digital landscape.

 

🏆 A Dual Victory: Startup MahaRathi + BTTP Edition 3

Selected as winners in the Gaming & Sports category, we were thrilled to be recognized by the Startup MahaRathi Challenge, a flagship initiative of Startup Mahakumbh by DPIIT and Invest India. This challenge celebrates early-stage startups from across the country that are solving for India's future in 11 key sectors.

Second Quest represented by Vivek Jha (CTO) being felicitated as a Startup MahaRathi Winner

Our recent win underscores the growing recognition of platform-first games like ours within India’s innovation landscape. It’s a powerful affirmation that gaming is a serious contributor to Viksit Bharat 2047, not just a peripheral activity.

We were also honored as winners of the Bharat Tech Triumph Program (BTTP) Edition 3. This program, backed by IEIC, WinZO Games, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and key government partners, spotlights India's top AVGC-XR startups with global potential. Thanks to BTTP, we've had invaluable opportunities to showcase our work on international stages at events like GDC 2025 and Waves Summit 2025.

 

Second Quest showcasing Model Trains Game at the India Pavilion at GDC 2025 (San Fransisco, US)

 

mother and child playing Model Trains Game at Waves 2025 (Mumbai, India)

These triumphs collectively affirm a profound shift in perception: games are no longer mere entertainment but are increasingly recognized as fundamental infrastructure for India’s burgeoning digital and cultural economy. This evolving viewpoint underscores the significant contributions the gaming sector makes to national development, extending beyond economic metrics to encompass social and technological advancement.

 

🚂 What We’re Building: Model Trains

Model Trains is our award-winning prototype, a creative and cozy simulation game that draws inspiration from the enchanting world of miniature railroads. It's more than just a nostalgic experience; it's a dynamic platform for world-building, storytelling, and user-generated content (UGC).

See our early prototype in action: Model Trains Demo (Early Prototype)

Players are empowered to build interactive landscapes, customize their layouts, animate towns, and share their stories using accessible yet deep tools. Whether you're a casual player or a dedicated modder, Model Trains is designed to unleash your creativity.

We're not just developing a game; we're cultivating an AI-native content platform that empowers players as creators. This vision aligns with the future of simulation gaming, where users are active co-creators, not just players.

 

🔭 A Step Forward on Our Visionary Roadmap

Second Quest’s mission to reimagine simulation games as global creative platforms is underscored by these awards. Since Day 1, our goal has been to put players at the center of creation. We enable people to build meaningful digital experiences through community-first development, rich systems design, and creator tools.

Recognition from Startup MahaRathi and BTTP validates our IP strategy, product roadmap, and long-term vision. It also strengthens our ability to attract the right partners, collaborators, and investors to globalize our platform.

 

🎮 Why Gaming Is Core to India’s Digital Future

Gaming is more than entertainment. It’s where culture, technology, and creativity collide, and where new narratives, communities, and economies are born.

India, with its burgeoning gaming population of over 600 million, stands at a crucial juncture. The nation is transitioning from a consumer market to a significant developer in the global gaming landscape, fostering original intellectual property and dynamic creator-driven ecosystems. To solidify its leadership, India's gaming industry requires robust infrastructure, substantial capital investment, and supportive policy frameworks.

At Second Quest, we are developing simulation games that serve as AI-native UGC Platforms. These platforms are designed to be dynamic spaces where players globally can create, modify, narrate stories, and engage with communities. With 17 years of experience in media and sports-tech, I am convinced that gaming stands as the most potent storytelling medium of our era. It is imperative that India asserts its position on this global stage.

 

🚀 The Impact: Visibility, Credibility, and Growth

Winning these programs has not only validated our efforts but also significantly accelerated our progress. We've unlocked key benefits, including:

• Enhanced Investor Access: Gaining increased visibility among Venture Capitalists and key ecosystem enablers.
• Premier Mentorship & Networks: Direct learning opportunities from some of India's leading tech and startup minds.
• Streamlined Talent Acquisition: Our recognition has been instrumental in attracting passionate team members who resonate with our mission.
• Expanded Collaborations: Fostering new conversations with leading tech platforms, game publishers, and content creators.

 

💡 Our Learnings and Advice for Indian Game Founders

Building a game in India? Here's what I've learned:

• Build with Conviction: Don't just follow trends; create what you're truly passionate about.
• Focus on Ecosystems, Not Just Games: Modern games are becoming dynamic creative platforms.
• Constant Engagement is Key: From day one, actively listen to your players, modders, and collaborators.
• Leverage Local Support: Programs like BTTP, Startup MahaRathi, Elevate, and OCP offer valuable opportunities.
• Partner with Communities: IEIC, Game Developer Communities within your State and your supporters will be able to provide resources and mentorship.
• Think Globally from Day One: Develop your game in India but design it for a worldwide audience. Made in India stories, are ready for the global stage

 

🧭 What’s Next for Second Quest

We are currently focusing on two key areas:

1. Game Development: Our efforts are concentrated on refining simulation systems, enhancing creation tools, and conducting early player feature testing. This is achieved through live devlogs and community playtesting.
2. Community Building: With our Discord server now live, we are actively fostering a creator-led community. This includes modders, builders, and storytellers who are passionate about co-creating the future of Model Trains.

This phase is critical, as every decision we make now will lay the groundwork for the game and platform we aspire to bring to the world.

 

🎮 Join Our Quest

India’s gaming story is just beginning—and we’re excited to be a small but passionate part of it. We’re building for joy, creativity, and community. And we’d love for you to be part of the journey.

🚂 Want to be among the first to play Model Trains?
Join our Beta Playtest Program at beta.secondquest.games.See you on the tracks.