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At 16 and 18, Jigmi Brahma and Prasanta Ray are building
Fathm — a gaming
infrastructure platform that could reshape the way independent developers validate, refine,
and publish their work.
In the
northeastern state of Assam, two teenagers are building something that could
reshape the landscape of independent game development in India. Jigmi Brahma,
aged 16, and Prasanta Ray, aged 18, are the founders
of Fathm Private
Limited — a gaming infrastructure platform designed to
help independent developers validate their game concepts, refine their work
based on player feedback, and eventually publish their games to a wider
audience.
The
platform, which launched in 2026, addresses a gap that has long frustrated
independent game developers in India: the lack of accessible tools for
validation and feedback. For every successful indie game that finds its
audience, countless others remain undiscovered — not because they are poorly
made, but because their creators lacked the insights needed to refine their
concepts before committing to full-scale production.
Fathm's model is
built around structured game jams and player feedback sessions. Developers
bring their game concepts to the platform, where players engage with them and
provide detailed, actionable feedback. The platform highlights strengths,
identifies areas for improvement, and gives
developers clear signals about what players actually want. It is, in essence, a
validation engine — one that reduces the risk of building games that fail to
connect with audiences.
For Brahma, who
serves as Fathm's Chief Executive Officer, the platform is the culmination of a
journey that began when he was just 11 years old. A self-taught developer, he
built his first gaming platform,
Pixly, at an age when most children are still learning the basics of coding.
The experience taught him something that would shape his approach to
entrepreneurship: building in isolation is risky, and validation is essential.
"I spent so
much time building things and had no idea if anyone would ever play them,"
Brahma said. "That feeling of building in the dark — that's what we're
trying to solve for other developers. Fathm is about giving creators a clear
signal before they invest everything into a project."
Behind the
technical infrastructure of Fathm is Ray, the company's Chief Technology
Officer. At just 18, Ray brings over seven years of experience in server
administration, cloud infrastructure, and full-stack development to the
venture. A student at the Central Institute of Technology in Kokrajhar, where
he is pursuing a Diploma in Computer Science and Engineering, Ray also founded
CodelithLabs, an open-source software organization, in 2025. His technical
depth — spanning Linux, DevOps, and AI — forms the foundation upon which Fathm
is being built.
What makes the
Fathm story particularly compelling is its geography. Kokrajhar, a town of
approximately 40,000 people in Assam,
is not typically associated with tech entrepreneurship. The startup ecosystem
in India has historically been concentrated in cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, with founders from
the Northeast often remaining invisible to investors and media alike. Brahma
and Ray are part of a quiet shift — a growing number of young entrepreneurs
from the region who are building
without waiting for permission or recognition.
"We grew up here, and we never felt like we had to leave to build something meaningful," Brahma said. "The infrastructure is there, the internet is there, the ambition is there. People just need to know it's possible. That's what Fathm is proving."
The timing of Fathm's launch in 2026 aligns with a broader expansion in India's gaming ecosystem. Industry reports indicate that the number of independent developers in the country is growing rapidly, driven by increased internet access, affordable smartphones, and a rising culture of digital creativity. Yet, the tools available to these developers remain limited — particularly when it comes to validation and feedback. Fathm aims to fill that gap, offering a structured pathway from concept to publication that has traditionally been available only to well-funded studios.
For Ray, building Fathm is about more than just creating a platform — it's
about building infrastructure that can support developers across India.
"We're not just building a tool," he said. "We're building
something that can change the way games are made in this country. That's what
keeps me working on it."
As Fathm continues
to grow, the founders remain focused on their mission: helping developers build
games that players actually want. They are also building something else — proof
that founders from Northeast India can create meaningful technology ventures
without relocating to the country's traditional startup hubs.
The platform is
currently in its early stages, with development work underway and a growing
focus on outreach to the independent game development community across India.
Further information about Fathm and its platform
is available at fathm.net, and updates on the company's progress can be followed on LinkedIn and X.
"We started building because we saw something missing," Brahma said. "And we want every developer in India to know — we're building this for you, wherever you are."
Fathm
Private Limited is a gaming infrastructure company based in
Kokrajhar, Assam, founded in 2026 by Jigmi Brahma and Prasanta Ray. The
platform helps independent game developers validate their game concepts through
structured player feedback,
game jams, and publishing support.
For more information, visit fathm.net.
Follow Fathm on LinkedIn and X for updates on their journey.