“Fueling Growth: A $30 Million Series A Investment Secured!”

Grand Games, a gaming studio responsible for the widely adored Magic Sort mobile game, has declared it secured a $30 million Series A funding round, signifying its emergence as the latest promising studio from Istanbul, the gaming hub that birthed Dream Games and Peak Games. The round was spearheaded by Balderton Capital with contributions from existing backers Bek Ventures (previously known as Earlybird Digital East), Laton Ventures, and angel investor Mert Gür.

Achieving one of Turkey’s largest Series A funding rounds merely nine months post its establishment, Grand Games attracted a fierce competitive interest from investors, ultimately securing world-class investors who previously supported Peak Games and Dream Games to victory. Within less than 10 months, Grand’s team has produced two of the most popular mobile game titles, Magic Sort and Car Match.

These games have generated over $4 million in monthly gross In App Revenue within three short months. This rapid growth trajectory is attributed to Grand’s commitment to crafting an entirely new studio environment by bringing in top creative and business talent who operate in small teams with unparalleled ownership, trust, and enhanced equity compared to rival studios.

While co-founders Mustafa Fırtına, Mehmet Çalım, and Bekir Batuhan Çelebi fostered a distinctive culture vital to Grand Games’ momentum, the startup employs a strategy that sets it apart from other studios. Instead of creating replicas of existing games, Grand is intensely focused on developing original and genre-defining hits.

Grand Games plans to utilize the investment to accelerate its swift expansion, penetrate global markets, including the US, and introduce a new flagship genre-defining game in 2025, as part of its mission to become an entertainment powerhouse. The team anticipates expanding from 14 to more than 40 this year, hiring across various disciplines including game design, programming, art, music, and business development.

KEY QUOTES:

“We are in the process of hiring the top talents and we provide those teams unmatched ownership and responsibility – you design your game your way. Exceptional games are created by world-class creative professionals given the freedom to express themselves.”

“As gamers ourselves, we found ourselves increasingly disheartened by the minimal product differentiation of new games hitting the market. At Grand, we’re dedicated to addressing the unmet desires of gamers by developing genre-defining games with significant product differentiation.”

“We aim to capture the most precious asset of our players, their time. To achieve this, we focus intently on delivering a premium experience through a casual game design, enhanced by social features. With two immensely successful titles already to our credit, we’re building a multi-studio entertainment powerhouse that evokes genuine emotions and connections – something truly unique in the casual gaming sector.”

– Bekir Batuhan Çelebi, co-founder of Grand Games

“Istanbul is creating some of the world’s finest gaming studios, and within that ecosystem, the founders of Grand Games distinguished themselves with their vision to create world-class genre-defining casual games that players adore. The speed with which they have fostered an exceptional team culture and achieved success with their first two games underscores their talent and commitment. We are thrilled to collaborate with a team boasting sky-high aspirations and a passion for gaming.”

– Suranga Chandratillake, General Partner at Balderton Capital

“We have adopted a highly selective stance towards investing in Turkey’s thriving gaming ecosystem, despite its remarkable strengths, and Grand Games was our initial gaming investment since Peak Games. The Grand team demonstrated that they possess exceptional talent and a bold vision to forge a lasting company, and since supporting them at pre-seed, they have undeniably showcased their ability to execute, concurrently producing multiple successful premium titles. It is a pleasure to continue supporting them on their journey.”

– Oguzhan Ozer, Principal at Bek Ventures

“We are exceedingly pleased with the achievements of Grand Games, one of our earliest investments. With their initial momentum and robust team culture, we are confident they are on the trajectory to become Turkey’s next unicorn.”

– Görkem Türk, Founder at Laton Ventures