In a remarkable achievement for a fledgling company, Turkish startup Grand Games has successfully secured $30 million in funding just nine months after its launch. Known for its popular titles like Magic Sort and Car Match, Grand Games plans to leverage these new funds to further refine and replicate its proven game development model. This model emphasizes small, talented teams, or clusters, that are given the autonomy to innovate and drive game design independently, contributing to the company’s rapid rise in the highly competitive mobile gaming market.
Funding and Growth Strategy
Emphasis on Team Culture and Autonomy
At the heart of Grand Games’ approach is a unique focus on cultivating a motivating team culture, which CEO and co-founder Batu Çelebi believes is crucial for success in the tech industry. Inspired by the successful model of Finnish gaming giant Supercell, Grand Games emphasizes creating a supportive and empowering work environment. This involves hiring top talent and organizing them into small, agile teams that have the freedom to take ownership of their projects from start to finish. The emphasis on autonomy allows these groups to innovate freely and respond quickly to changes in the gaming market, ultimately leading to the development of high-quality games.
Batu Çelebi highlighted that the company uses AI technology to expedite various aspects of game development, including artwork and coding. However, the real differentiator is the team culture they are building. Çelebi stated, “It’s all about the team culture we are building,” pointing out that while AI plays a significant role, the human element remains central to their operations. By fostering an environment where teams are motivated and empowered, Grand Games aims to maintain high levels of creativity and productivity, resulting in better games and increased employee satisfaction.
Series A Funding and Investor Confidence
The Series A funding round for Grand Games was spearheaded by London-based venture capital firm Balderson, with additional participation from previous investors Bek Ventures and Laton Ventures, as well as angel investor Mert Gür. Although the exact valuation of the company was not disclosed, it was revealed that the funding round was oversubscribed. This indicates a strong level of confidence from investors in the potential of Grand Games to continue its trajectory of rapid growth and success within the casual gaming market.
Magic Sort, one of Grand Games’ flagship titles, has already made a significant impact by breaking into Apple’s top-selling casual gaming charts. Along with other games developed by the company, Magic Sort has generated over $4 million in gross app revenue in just six months. This level of success is particularly noteworthy given the typical challenges faced by casual gaming startups, which often opt for bootstrapping due to early revenue generation and lower cost bases. The strong investor interest in Grand Games underscores the belief in the company’s innovative approach and its potential to disrupt the mobile gaming landscape.
Success and Future Prospects
Inspiration from Other Turkish Gaming Startups
The success of Grand Games draws attention to the burgeoning gaming industry in Turkey, which has produced several notable startups in recent years. Companies like Dream Games and Peak Games have set high standards for Turkish founders. In particular, Peak Games’ acquisition by Zynga for $1.8 billion in 2020 demonstrated the significant potential of Turkish gaming companies on the global stage. Other promising companies in the region include Tripledot, Spyke, Agave, and Good Job. Notably, Batu Çelebi and his co-founders Mustafa Fırtına and Mehmet Çalım conceived the idea for Grand Games while working at Good Job, seeing an opportunity to challenge the traditional top-down approach to game design.
The strategy of Grand Games revolves around entrusting high-caliber teams with decision-making authority. This approach is aimed at fostering creativity and productivity, which in turn leads to the development of better games and heightened employee satisfaction. Batu Çelebi asserts that the culture of autonomy at Grand Games is a significant differentiator within Istanbul’s gaming industry. By drawing inspiration from Supercell’s model, the company has been able to create a similar environment where innovative ideas can flourish and talented individuals are empowered to take initiative.
Expansion Plans and Industry Recognition
In a notable milestone for a nascent company, Turkish startup Grand Games has impressively secured $30 million in funding just nine months following its inception. Known for crafting popular titles such as Magic Sort and Car Match, Grand Games plans to leverage this substantial financial backing to further refine and replicate its successful game development strategy. This strategy is centered around small, highly skilled teams, or clusters, that have the autonomy to innovate and drive game design independently. By empowering these clusters, Grand Games has achieved swift growth and garnered a strong foothold in the fiercely competitive mobile gaming market. The company’s unique approach not only fosters creativity but also speeds up the development process, allowing them to rapidly respond to market trends and player feedback. This new injection of capital will enable Grand Games to expand its team structures, develop new titles, and continue its trajectory of remarkable success in the mobile gaming industry.
