Joachim Akron's Elite Game Developers: Empowering the Next Generation of Game Studio Founders
Company profile
Company business details
Motivation to build the product
The founders were motivated by the need to support aspiring game developers who often face significant challenges when starting their own studios. They recognized a gap in resources and mentorship available to these entrepreneurs, which sparked the idea to create a platform that fosters knowledge sharing and community support.Problem that their product solves
The platform addresses the challenges faced by aspiring game developers, who often struggle with the complexities of starting and running a game studio. By providing valuable resources, mentorship, and community support, it helps these entrepreneurs navigate the gaming industry more effectively, which is crucial for their success and the overall health of the gaming ecosystem.Their unfair advantage
Elite Game Developers has established itself as a recognized source of knowledge and support in the gaming industry, which gives it an edge over competitors who may not have the same level of community engagement and expertise.Strategies
Pre-Launch (Product Development & MVP)
Content Creation for Elite Game Developers
Joachim Akron dedicated his mornings to creating content for his newsletter and podcast, Elite Game Developers. This involved spending a couple of hours each day focused on producing valuable insights and information for game studio founders. By consistently delivering high-quality content, he aimed to establish the newsletter as the go-to source for gaming startup founders, which ultimately helped grow the subscriber base to nearly 10,000 over four years.
Syndicate Model for Investment
Inspired by Jason Calacanis's Syndicate model, Joachim Akron created a group of gaming executives on Slack to facilitate collective investment in gaming startups. He presented potential deals to the group, sharing pitch decks and recorded interviews with founders, and collected commitments from members to invest in promising startups. This approach not only democratized angel investing for many who were not previously investors but also helped him introduce at least 100 individuals to the world of angel investing in gaming.
Launch Stage
Community Building for Game Launches
Joachim highlighted the shift towards early community building as a crucial strategy for launching games in the current market. He advised developers to create email lists and Discord communities to engage potential players before the game is released. By fostering a dedicated community, developers can generate anticipation and ensure a more successful launch, as they can directly target and communicate with their audience.
Podcast Launch
Sopo launched the 'Rise and Play' podcast to create a platform for discussing meaningful topics in the gaming industry. The podcast features leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors, aiming to inspire change and foster conversations about company culture and leadership. This initiative not only serves as a content creation tool but also positions Sopo as a thought leader in the gaming community, encouraging others to share their experiences and insights. The podcast was launched in June 2019, marking a significant step in Sopo's journey to contribute to the gaming ecosystem.
Growth Stage
Market-First Approach
Joachim emphasized the importance of understanding the market before developing a game. He advised founders to focus on identifying underserved audiences and creating games that cater to their needs rather than simply developing games they personally enjoy. This market-first mindset has proven to be more successful, as it aligns game development with actual market demand, leading to better engagement and profitability.
Learn more about Elite Game Developers
Succeeding as a game founder, COMPLETE INTERVIEW with Joakim Achrén
