New gaming-focused venture capital unveils $35 million fund
The surge of the Turkish gaming ecosystem has spurred the creation of venture capital funds specifically dedicated to the industry that has drawn millions of dollars of investments over the last couple of years
THE BURGEONING reputation of Türkiye in the mobile gaming industry has captured not only local but also global investors’ attention. It all began with Peak, Türkiye’s first billion-dollar tech venture in mobile gaming, followed closely by Dream Games, founded by former Peak team members, reinforcing confidence in gaming ventures.
This surge has spurred the creation of venture capital funds specifically dedicated to the gaming sector.
Laton Ventures is the newest addition to the ecosystem, having announced this week the launch of a $35 million fund tailored toward gaming investments.
Görkem Türk, the founding partner of Laton Ventures, states their intention to target pre-seed and seed-stage ventures with global business potential.
Leveraging Türkiye’s strategic position in the industry, Laton Ventures aims to become a leading global investor. The firm’s inaugural fund, established in the Netherlands, positions it as a conduit between Türkiye and the global gaming arena, with investments not limited to the country but extending worldwide.
INVESTOR EXPERTISE
In Türkiye, game studios typically consist of small teams averaging four to five employees. It’s imperative for venture capitalists investing in these ventures to possess a nuanced understanding of the sector’s dynamics to make informed decisions.
Laton Ventures intends to provide substantial operational support to its portfolio
companies, encompassing areas such as marketing strategy, game design, software and data analysis, thereby catalyzing the growth of these enterprises.
The roster of investors at Laton includes industry luminaries such as Mehmet Ecevit, co-founder of Gram Games; Mert Gür of Loop Games; Nevzat Aydın, founder of Yemeksepeti; Mert Can Kurum, founder of Ruby Games; Fırat İleri, managing partner of Hummingbird Ventures; Buğra Koç, general manager of Zynga Türkiye; Cenk Coşkuntürk, partner at Mediterra Capital and Eric Kress, founder of Gossamer.
Many of these individuals actively engage with portfolio companies within the scope of
Laton’s operational advisory model.
FOSTERING EARLY-STAGE GROWTH
The gaming market presents an attractive entry point not only for developers but also for the burgeoning gaming community. In 2023 alone, Turkish gaming ventures received $31.1 million in investments through 41 agreements, underscoring the market’s potential.
Laton Ventures’ robust investment team and experienced consultants form the cornerstone of its investment model, making it a preferred partner for early-stage gaming ventures and investors alike.
Türk stressed Türkiye’s ascendancy in the gaming sector, positioning its biggest city,
Istanbul, as the second-largest hub for game studios in Europe after the U.K. This momentum has piqued global investor interest.
“Thanks to our bridge position between Türkiye and the global gaming ecosystem and our operational advisory model, we provide access to the best investment opportunities from all around the world, including Türkiye. We are very excited about supporting teams that we believe will succeed on a global scale,” he noted.
Over the past six months, Laton Ventures has made five investments, two in Türkiye, two in Europe and one in America. Its collaboration with leading global funds and its track record of securing ventures in competitive rounds underscore its rapid ascent in the industry.