Turkish Gaming Startup Grand Games Secures $30M for AI-Powered Mobile Hits
The Rise of Istanbul’s Gaming Ecosystem
Turkey’s mobile gaming sector continues to make waves globally, with Grand Games becoming the latest startup to secure major funding. The Istanbul-based company, behind popular titles Magic Sort and Car Match, has raised $30 million in Series A funding just nine months after launch.
Funding Details and Investor Confidence
- Lead Investor: London’s Balderton Capital
- Participating Investors: Bek Ventures, Laton Ventures, and angel investor Mert Gür
- Previous Funding: $3 million seed round in 2024
- Valuation: Undisclosed, but sources indicate strong investor demand
This round marks one of Turkey’s largest Series A investments in gaming, following closely behind Agave Games’ $18 million raise last month.
A Unique Approach to Game Development
CEO and co-founder Bekir “Batu” Çelebi reveals the startup’s winning formula:
- Team-Centric Culture: Modeled after Finland’s Supercell, Grand Games empowers small, autonomous development teams
- AI Integration: Leverages artificial intelligence to streamline artwork creation and coding
- Creative Freedom: Founders intervene in only 5-10% of decisions, fostering innovation
“Our team culture is our biggest differentiator in Istanbul’s competitive gaming scene,” Batu emphasized in an exclusive interview.
Impressive Early Performance
- Magic Sort: Ranked among Apple’s top-selling casual games
- Combined Revenue: $4+ million gross in six months
- Team Growth: Funding will expand talent clusters developing new titles
The Turkish Gaming Phenomenon
Grand Games joins an impressive roster of Turkish gaming successes:
- Peak Games: Acquired by Zynga for $1.8 billion (2020)
- Dream Games: Raised \(255 million at \)2.75B valuation (2022)
- Spyke Games: Secured $55 million seed round
The founders, Batu, Mustafa Fırtına, and Mehmet Çalım, previously collaborated at Good Job Games before launching their venture.
Why Investors Are Betting on Grand Games
Suranga Chandratillake of Balderton Capital noted: “The speed with which they’ve built a brilliant team culture and achieved success demonstrates their talent. We’re excited to support their sky-high ambitions.”
The Road Ahead
As Grand Games scales its operations, the industry watches to see if this innovative model can:
- Sustain success with additional game titles
- Maintain culture while expanding teams
- Continue outperforming in the competitive casual gaming market
With its unique approach and strong early traction, Grand Games represents the next generation of Turkish gaming startups making a global impact.
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