Special Sauce Inc. Raises $500,000 Pre-Seed Round to Accelerate AI-Powered Mobile Game Development
January 14, 2026
Los Angeles, CA – Jan 14, 2026 – Special Sauce Inc., the independent game studio behind the upcoming multiplayer word solitaire title Word GOAT, today announced the successful closing of a $500,000 pre-seed investment round.
The funding will primarily support product development and initial user acquisition testing. The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence to rapidly deliver Version 1 of its game while significantly reducing the “content treadmill” that typically challenges mobile casual puzzle titles.
“We are thrilled to secure this pre-seed capital from investors who share our vision for smarter game development,” said Randy Davis, CEO and Co-Founder. “With AI, we can build and iterate at unprecedented speed, delivering a high-quality, engaging experience to players faster than ever. This round allows us to focus on creating Word GOAT as a truly fresh and sustainable multiplayer puzzle game.”
Mike Rasmussen, CTO and Co-Founder, added: “AI is a game-changer for our studio. It enables us to minimize repetitive content creation while maintaining the fun, polish, and replayability that players expect. We’re excited to use these funds to move quickly from concept to live players and prove the power of intelligent development in the casual gaming space.”
The investment will help Special Sauce Inc. bring Word GOAT to market and validate its innovative approach to multiplayer word gameplay and character customization.
About Special Sauce Inc.
Special Sauce Inc. is an independent game studio founded by Randy Davis and Mike Rasmussen, dedicated to creating joyful, AI-enhanced casual games that blend strategy, competition, and humor. The studio’s debut title, Word GOAT, is an upcoming multiplayer word solitaire experience set for release on iOS.
