In this episode, Mika Tammenkoski, the CEO and co-founder of Metacore shared the evolution of his gaming company since its inception in 2020. From a small team prototyping smartwatch games to novel merge mechanics, the company has grown to 190+ members. The studio’s first global hit game Merge Mansion already has over 50 million players. Metacore is one of the fastest growing game companies in Europe, with EUR 129 million in revenue in 2022 and a team of 190 professionals. The company has raised EUR 180 million in funding from Supercell and is one of their portfolio companies. Mika talks about the company's early meetings and experiences, his personal journey into the gaming industry, and the decision to shift focus from new technologies to more established gaming markets. He also sheds light on the company's culture and the vital importance of a robust talent acquisition strategy. Furthermore, Mika provides insights on Metacore's expansion plans, with a new studio in Berlin and operations extending to other games. 00:00 Introduction and Background of Metacore 00:31 Interview with Mika, CEO and Co-founder of Metacore 01:48 Mika's Journey into the Gaming Industry 04:47 Mika's Experience at Digital Chocolate 08:08 Founding of Everywear Games and Transition to Metacore 10:28 Challenges and Learnings from Previous Ventures 17:06 The Birth of Merge Mansion 18:49 The Testing and Iteration Process of Merge Mansion 23:55 Reflections on the Development Process 27:10 The Journey of Game Development and Company Growth 28:06 Challenges and Learnings from Global Launch 28:43 Understanding the Role of Story and Advertising in Gaming 29:37 The Evolution of Company Culture 30:37 Influence of Other Cultures and the Importance of Adaptability 32:40 The Importance of Talent Acquisition and Internal Growth 34:33 Reflections on Company Growth and Expansion 34:59 The Importance of Defining and Evolving Company Culture 43:18 Looking Forward: Future Aspirations and Expansion Plans for Metacore 47:33 Challenges and Strategies in Scaling Skills and Leadership 48:03 The Role of Community in the Gaming Industry 53:50 Closing Thoughts: The Importance of Inspiration and Continuous Learning 💌 Don't forget to subscribe to Rise and Play for further news: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.riseandplay.io/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ If you enjoyed today's episode make sure to rate it on Spotify, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, or simply share it with a friend.