Nordic technology company Studio555 has secured €4M in seed funding led by HOF Capital and Failup Ventures to develop its playable interior design app.
Founded in 2023 by CEO Joel Roos, CTO Stina Larsson, and CPO Axel Ullberger, the Swedish-Finnish startup combines gaming mechanics with interior design to create an entirely new creative category.
The funding will fuel product development, team expansion, and market entry across Europe and the US ahead of the app’s planned 2026 launch. The company aims to lower barriers to entry in interior design by creating an intuitive, visually immersive platform requiring no technical expertise or prior gaming experience.
The round is co-led by US-based HOF Capital and Failup Ventures, with offices in New York and Helsinki. Gaming industry veterans participating include Timo Soininen (Co-founder of Small Giant Games), Mikko Kodisoja (Co-founder of Supercell), and Riccardo Zacconi (Co-founder of King).
Merging gaming expertise with design innovation
Studio555’s founding team brings together extensive gaming and design experience. CEO Joel Roos is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the interiors and design industry, whilst CTO Stina Larsson and CPO Axel Ullberger are former King leads who played pivotal roles in Candy Crush Saga’s global success. The team combines expertise from companies including King, EA, and Rovio, alongside leading Nordic design studios.
The app introduces a simplified, immersive environment where users can intuitively create, explore, and personalise interior spaces. By applying gaming mechanics to interior design, Studio555 targets both interior design enthusiasts and casual gamers, opening up the category to entirely new audiences.
Industry veterans back creative platform vision
“At Studio555, we’re reimagining interior design as something anyone can explore: open-ended, playful, and personal. We’re building an experience we always wished existed: a space where creativity is hands-on, social, and free from rigid rules. This funding is a major step forward in setting an entirely new category for creative expression,” said Joel Roos, Co-founder and CEO of Studio555.
“We know what it takes to build and scale for millions and millions of players. Now we’re applying that same solid engineering mindset – real-time tracking, live insights, and decisions backed by data – to deliver a high-performance creative platform that never compromises on speed or stability,” said Stina Larsson, Co-founder and CTO.
“Studio555 brings together top-tier gaming talent and design vision. This team has built global hits before, and now they’re applying that experience to something completely fresh – think Pinterest in 3D meets TikTok, but for interiors. I’m honoured to support Joel and this team with their rare mix of creativity, technical competence, and focus on execution,” said Timo Soininen, Investor and Co-founder of Small Giant Games.
Pioneering playable design category for 2026 launch
“We’ve brought together top talent from tech, gaming, and UX to reimagine the design experience from the ground up. We’re bringing the magic of gaming into a space that’s never truly felt playful before. Our goal is to fully reimagine what an app for interior lovers can be,” said Axel Ullberger, Co-founder and CPO.
“We’re backing Studio555 because they’re redefining what a digital interior experience can be. They’re creating a new category: one where creativity, self-expression, and play meet in a completely new way,” said Topias Soininen, Investor and General Partner at Failup Ventures.
