Ouya denies fundraising claims as project hits $5m

High-profile console startup Ouya has once again denied that it is seeking funding from venture capitalists in conjunction with its Kickstarter campaign.

This latest development comes almost precisely as Ouya prepares to pass the $5m funding goal on Kickstarter.

MCV reported yesterday that founder Julie Uhrman said in an interview with Develop that the company was looking for additional funds of money but wanted to take it to Kickstarter regardless”.

These comments were then denied in a separate interview.

Now the company has issued a new statement that further outlines its position.

"Let me be clear, Ouya is not seeking additional funding outside of Kickstarter,” a statement from the company issued to MCV and Develop reads.Our priority now is to continue to focus on building a great game console while engaging in our ongoing Kickstarter campaign.

"Our intent in going to Kickstarter was to raise money that would take us from functional prototype to product on the market."

"With respect to our funding, we have been candid in disclosing an early round raised through friends and family that included backing from investors like Digg founder Jay Adelson, Flixster founder Joe Greenstein, and Jawbone founder Hosain Rahman.

"We do not intend to engage in any conversations related to funding while we are on Kickstarter. And, it’s not like we are going to start speed dialing VCs as soon as the Kickstarter campaign ends. Once our Kickstarter campaign closes funding our priority will be getting Ouya to market, and delivering the best game experience possible. Fundraising will not be top of the list.

"Unfortunately, I think this rumor sprung from a misunderstood answer during an interview and we are trying to contact the reporter to clarify."

The reporter in question is sitting just across the room from this author right now, with his dictaphone in hand. Ouya made successful contact regarding the issue last night. Having listened to the answer given it’s hard to understand from where the misunderstanding” arose.

It becomes even harder to grasp when the PR representative sitting in on the interview chips in with tell them about your conversations with venture capitalists”, although this could conceivably be referencing discussions that took place prior to Kickstarter funding.

UPDATE:Ouya has contacted MCV to say that the VC discussions mentioned did indeed take place prior to Ouya’s listing on Kickstarter.