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Image credits: Laton Ventures Team
Turkey has earned a reputation as a veritable cauldron of mobile gaming startups, leading to the rise of VCs specializing in this space. The latest company to join this coterie is Laton Ventures, a new games-focused VC that has raised $35 million in funding. Founding partner and solo GP, Görkem Türk has invested in the pre-seed and seed stages of Turkish gaming.He said he aims to build bridges between the ecosystem and the rest of the world. I am. The Fund is legally domiciled in the Netherlands.
As an emerging market with a young population, Turks consumed mobile games as quickly as possible, spawning over 740 gaming startups. More than 48% of Turkey’s population of 86 million are under the age of 30, and more than 92% of Internet users play games in Turkey (the world average is 82%).
In fact, from 2018 to 2022, Turkish gaming startups raised more than $1 billion in funding.
To be sure, Laton has competition. Currently, there are at least 25 VC funds investing in video game startups based in Turkey. That said, most companies also invest in other technology sectors.
Türk, a former gaming and startup industry manager at Google, explained in a phone call that Laton differentiates itself by focusing on operational advice to its portfolio companies.
“We serve as a bridge between the rapidly growing Turkish gaming ecosystem and the international gaming ecosystem. “We will strengthen our operational support in the field. We are backed by over 20 retired founders. That’s what really sets us apart,” he said.
The fund has already invested in five companies in the past six months, two in Turkey, two in Europe and one in the US, and will leverage its network of seasoned industry advisors.
To that end, Laton’s LP includes Mehmet Ecevit, co-founder of Gram Games. Mert Gül, founder of Loop Games. Mert Kang Krum, founder of Ruby Games. Mr. Firat Ireli, Managing Partner, Hummingbird Ventures. Nevzat Aydın, founder of Yemeksepeti, and Eric Kress, founder of Gossamer.
