The venture capital firm Laton Ventures, based in Turkey, has successfully raised $35 million for investing in games companies.
This VC firm is focused on providing pre-seed and seed stage funding to startups with the potential to become significant players in the industry. By investing in both Turkey and the global games market, Laton Ventures aims to create a strong connection between Turkish and global gaming ecosystems.
In addition to financial support, Laton Ventures will offer operational advisory services in key areas such as user acquisition, game design, development, and analytics.
While the team at Laton Ventures has a background in mobile gaming, their investment strategy will also encompass other platforms. The firm has already invested in five companies in the last six months.
Notable Backers
The fund was established by Görkem Türk, a former Google and startups industry manager. It has received support from more than 20 industry and tech experts, including key figures like Mehmet Ecevit from Gram Games, Mert Can Kurum from Ruby Games, and Eric Kress from Gossamer. Additionally, Supercell and the VC arm of Turkish private bank İşBank have also invested in the firm.
In an interview with PocketGamer.biz, Türk highlighted the importance of Turkey’s thriving games industry, which includes prominent studios like Gram Games, Dream Games, and Rollic.
“Utilizing the rich gaming heritage in Turkey played a significant role in securing this level of funding,” Türk stated.
Opportunities in an Ever-Evolving Industry
Despite the challenges faced by the industry and a recent decrease in investments, Türk believes that there are still substantial opportunities within the gaming sector.
“Gaming is a constantly evolving industry where talent and expertise are at an all-time high. With a growing number of global gamers, we see vast opportunities in various areas, from social-first experiences to innovative genres developed by top-notch teams,” Türk explained.
During the Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco conference, Tugbek Olek from the Games from Turkiye advisory board discussed the tax relief and incentives offered by Turkey to the games industry, including the absence of a capital gains tax. Türk noted that such support has reduced the risk associated with investments in gaming startups.
