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At Rise and Play, we give voice to leaders, entrepreneurs, educators and influencers of the game industry who are here to make a change. We love games and want to make this industry last through healthy team cultures, awareness and education. Each episode will tackle a wide range of important topics such as leadership, team culture, self-management, conscious leadership, work-life balance, game education, ethics in business, equality, diversity and inclusion... brought by the different persp ...
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Tor Books, in partnership with Literary Hub, presents Voyage Into Genre! Every other Wednesday, join host Drew Broussard for conversations with Tor authors discussing their new books, the future, and the future of genre. Oh, and maybe there'll be some surprises along the way... Tor Presents: Voyage Into Genre is a Lit Hub Radio podcast.
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LevelUp

ironSource / Melissa Zeloof

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Gaming is a multi-billion dollar industry, but what goes into making the world's most popular games? Join us as we speak to titans of the gaming world, including Zeptolab, Playrix, Nexon and Kongregate, the makers behind wildly popular games Adventure Capitalist, Cut The Rope, Gardenscapes and Battlejack, to hear how they design, develop, monetize and market their games. Tune in to Level Up by ironSource, the podcast for people who love making, growing, and of course, playing mobile games.
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The Corporate Activist is a new podcast that explores the role of the business sector in today’s complex social and political landscape. On the Corporate Activist we will look at the role of the business sector from all angles, examine the benefits of engagement, as well as the risks. I talk with a broad range of experts to get their perspectives, take an in depth look at some case studies, as well as answer your questions on how you can best navigate these issues in your own business. We di ...
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In this episode, we delve into an inspiring conversation with Emma Delage, CEO of Studio Camelia. Emma shares her journey from working at Ubisoft Paris to founding her own independent game studio based in Montpellier, France. We cover the challenges and wins of starting a new game company, focusing on JRPGs, and navigating the complexities of fundr…
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The first-ever Voyage into Genre live tour is in the books—and what a tour it was! Intrepid authors Andrea Hairston, Veronica Roth, Rebecca Thorne, and Nghi Vo spent a whirlwind week traveling from Seattle to New York with stops every night along the way. We're pleased to share excerpts from their tour kick-off at Third Place Books (with TJ Klune m…
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How to combine games and education, and is there a case for it? We interview Melissa Cash, co-founder and CEO of PokPok, a company creating educational and engaging digital content for children. They discuss the challenges and strategies of developing non-addictive, educational content for young children, focusing on the importance of designing too…
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In this episode, we interview Olya Caliujnaia, the CEO and co-founder at Sanlo.io, on a mission to help game businesses thrive revenues. Olya shares her entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in a family of resilient entrepreneurs, to eventually founding her own company in the gaming industry. Before Sanlo, Olya managed product and growth at Play…
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We continue our short series on fundraising in games in 2024, following the journey of Sophie Vo, founder of Rise and Play and CEO of Kylan, a new studio created in 2024. In this episode hosted by Clair Rozain, Sophie shares what she wishes she had known before fundraising and how she would approach it a second time with all she has learned: start …
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Welcome to the final episode of Season 2 of The Corporate Activist. For this episode we are having a little bit of a different conversation than our usual topics with a fascinating discussion about the intersection of culture and design in Saudi Arabia. My guest is renowned Saudi designer Nawaf Al-Nassar, who shares his unique insights on blending …
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In this episode focused on fundraising, we hear the stories of three powerful women and founders who raised with VCs in seed and round A between 2015 and 2023. All you need to know while you are fundraising with VCs in 2024, and asking yourself, is this the right path for you? Julia Palatovska, Dorian Games, $19M raised. Aurora Klæboe Berg, Megacoo…
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It takes courage to build a game company. It takes courage to decide to close a company. It takes double courage to talk about it and share the learnings. In this episode, we follow the journey of Shelby Moledina, co-founder of Double Loop Games, from the aspiring start in 2019 to the difficult decision to close the company in 2023. Shelby shares t…
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Welcome to this episode of The Corporate Activist. Today, we're joined by Dr. Christopher Marquis, a leading voice in business sustainability and social entrepreneurship. We explore the provocative insights from his latest book, The Profiteers, which sheds light on how companies privatize profits while socializing costs, often leaving the public to…
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Is that a crazy idea to start a new game company in 2024?! We are resuming the podcast in May, tackling the multiple challenges of building a new company/studio and surviving in 2024. We kick off this new season, with the journey of Sophie Vo, founder of Rise and Play and first-time CEO of a game company. Sophie shares her process of becoming a CEO…
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In this special episode, Sophie Vo shares a heartfelt thank you to the community for their loyalty and support over the past three years, and reveals a major personal update: the start of her new game company, Kylan. This new venture will lead to a short break in podcast content, but we assure listeners that this is just a brief hiatus! We are onbo…
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In today’s episode, we're diving into the gaming industry’s role and responsibility in corporate activism and social impact with Sophie Vo, a seasoned game executive and founder of Rise and Play. Sophie shares her journey and vision for a more inclusive, socially responsible gaming world. Through her work, she aims to create a balance between econo…
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In this episode, we interview Jamie Smith, a principal game designer at People Can Fly, about the challenges and insights into design leadership for AAA development. While agile development with quick feedback loop is common for mobile games, it is not for AAA! So how do you combine the mindset of agility and traditionally long and siloed AAA game …
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In this episode, we deconstruct the success of Beatstar, from the lens of design and company culture at Space Ape Games, with our special guest Charmie Kim, Game lead at Space Ape Games. We explore the evolution of game development from first-mover advantages beginnings to the complex, research-driven approach necessary in today's competitive marke…
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Welcome to another episode of The Corporate Activist. In this episode I speak with organisational psychologist Dr. Philip Mirvis. Dr Mirvis was inspired by the social and labor activism of 60s and 70s which led him to advocating for employees and better treatment for workers within corporations. This evolved into later helping Ben & Jerry's develop…
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We interview Derk De Geus, co-CEO and Co-Founder of Paladin Studio to explore leadership lessons learned over two decades in the gaming industry. The episode covers the genesis of Paladin Studio, its transition from a service company to a game development studio, and how it navigated challenges and growth without external investment. Bootstrapping …
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Different teams make different games, for different audiences, In this episode, we interview the duo Caroline Marchal and Charu Desodt, respectively CEO and Studio Director at Interior Night, to share their journey building an innovative AAA studio from scratch. Interior Night is an independent game studio formed by Quantic Dream and Sony veterans …
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In this episode, we follow the journey of Laura Carter, CEO and co-founder of TreesPlease Games, with the mission to bring a positive impact on the planet, through games. After a stellar career at companies such as Natural Motion, Square Enix, The Walt Disney Company and PlayStation Studios, Laura decided in 2019 to take a leap and bring her passio…
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In this episode I speak with Jeremy Brown about his efforts to bring together social impact practitioners through his platform, Social Impact World and his efforts to help companies be a force for social good. Jeremy has a rich background in social enterprise and he shares some practical steps that businesses can take to challenge the status quo an…
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The podcast features Kim Nordström, a gaming industry veteran from Paradox Interactive and King, and the author of 'Up, Down, Up', a book about the life cycle phases of gaming startups. We delve into Kim's analytical approach exploring startup successes and failures, identifying key patterns across companies. Over two years of research, Kim intervi…
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In 2023, there were 11.89% female CEOs and 8.95% co-founders (reported from 7 different funds) from approximately 400 companies and 1000 founders. It is progress but there is still a long way to go before we see more women accessing positions of CEOs, especially when they are not founding their own company. In this episode, we interview Veronica Ro…
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As the gaming industry is maturing, we become aware of the importance of diversity in audience, teams, and leadership. But what about the investment side? In this episode, we interview Kelly Wallick, the former founder of Indie Megabooth and now a partner at 1Up Ventures, founded in 2019 by Ed Fries (Former Microsoft Vice President). Their mission …
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This week's episode is a re-visit to an episode from Season One , where I am joined by Edward Sullivan. Edward is the CEO and Managing Partner at Velocity Coaching. His 20-year career as an executive coach and political consultant has taken him around the globe coaching and advising start-up founders, fortune 500 CEOs and heads of state of foreign …
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"What if I build my own company? What if I have more money? Then, I will be happier!" In this episode, Sophie interviews Miska Katkoff, founder of Deconstructor of Fun and former CEO of Savage Games, to reflect on the journey post-acquisition from PlayStation Studios in 2022. We discuss the definition of success and the common pressures individuals…
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With thousands of people being laid off in the gaming industry over the past few months, what does it look like to create your own job rather than waiting for the job market to recover? Matej Lancaric, known for his prominent role in UA in Games, shares his journey as a solopreneur on the podcast. We cover Matej's transition from a corporate career…
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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 i…
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In today's episode, we're diving deep into the role and responsibility of corporations during times of war and conflict as tensions escalate in hotspots around the world. My guest is Dr Peter Stanbury, a sage in political economist and anthropologist, who brings nearly three decades of insights from the frontlines of economic development challenges…
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What would happen if someone leaked their company's full compensation information to the entire company? That's how you can evaluate your readiness to move your company toward an open salaries policy, or not. In the future of work, where more and more employees will prioritize transparency and equality, open salaries are poised to become a standard…
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🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳 In this last episode of the series, we unleash India's gaming potential from an investment point of view with Vivek Ramachandran, early-stage investor at Matrix Partners. We dive into the exciting world of game development and explore the potential of the Indian market. We discuss the growth of the media and entertainment…
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🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳 In this episode, we follow the journey of Ram Reddy, CEO and co-founder at QuriousBit, and former product leader at Play Simple, which was acquired by MTG in 2021 for $510M. QuriousBit was founded end of 2022 and raised its funding of $2 million from gaming-focused venture capital firm Lumikai and early-stage investor Gen…
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Welcome to a thought-provoking episode where we explore the intricate connections between geopolitics and the corporate world. Joining us is Jeppe Kofod, an experienced Danish politician with deep insights into international relations. We delve into how global events shape the corporate landscape and vice versa, discussing the role of businesses in…
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🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳 In this episode, we go on a captivating journey into the world of gaming and e-sports in India. Joined by Roby John, the CEO of SuperGaming and former co-founder of June Gaming, we discuss the rise of India's gaming industry and the unique player-centric and cultural approach SuperGaming has taken in building its innovati…
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🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳 What if AI could be the answer to providing quality education for every child in the world? What if we could leverage tech and entertainment to have a social impact at scale? That's the world problem Rishi and his Supernova AI team try to crack. In the episode, we go deep inside Supernova's fascinating journey, where the …
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In this compelling episode, we dive deep into the world of sustainable business practices and climate change with Angela Paulk, CEO of The Climate Board. Angela, with her extensive background in global leadership, regulatory governance, and strategic consulting, sheds light on the intricate relationship between business operations, public policy an…
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🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳 In this episode, we sit down with Ojas Vipat, the CEO and co-founder of Mayhem Studio ($20 million raised in a Series A round led by Sequoia Capital), to uncover the untapped potential and lack of awareness surrounding the Indian gaming scene. Ojas shares his journey and what led him to break away from the norm and start …
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🇮🇳 SPECIAL INDIA SERIES 🇮🇳 In this episode, we are joined by Oliver Jones, CEO and co-founder of Bombay Play, one of the leading gaming studios in Bengaluru, India. Oliver shares his journey in the gaming industry before founding Bombay Play, from working at Zynga and Glu to founding his first company Moonfrog Labs (acquired for USD 90 million by S…
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This episode is about the inspiring journey of a resilient young entrepreneur, who is committed to cracking the puzzle of fitness to mobile games for GenZ. In this episode, we interview Jenny Xu, the CEO of Talofa Games, to discuss her journey in the gaming industry and the creation of their unique fitness RPG game, Run Legends. Jenny shares her ba…
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Welcome to this episode where we explore the intersection of business and social impact. Today, I'm joined by Jeff Sheinbein, CEO and co-founder of Social Imprints, a trailblazing social enterprise in San Francisco. We delve into how Jeff's company is redefining the corporate world by offering meaningful employment to at-risk populations. This epis…
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In this captivating episode, we dive into the revolutionary game publishing model of Kepler Interactive. Join our conversation with Catherine Chew, Senior Director of Investments and Business at Kepler, to uncover the secrets behind their unique co-ownership model. In 2021, Kepler has raised $120 million from NetEase in a financing round as part of…
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In this episode of the podcast, we interview Antti Hattara, CEO and Co-Founder at Starberry Games. We discuss Antti's journey in the mobile gaming industry, from the Digital Chocolate Alumni days to working on popular games like Jelly Splash (Wooga) to starting his own company in 2017. Antti shares his experiences bootstrapping, pivoting the compan…
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Who do you trust these days? According to today's guest, Emily Chan, most people put their trust in the people they work with, based on research found in the annual Edelman Trust Barometer. Emily is the Executive Vice President and US West Lead of Social Impact and Sustainability for Edelman. She is a sustainability expert with a focus on corporate…
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In this LevelUp episode, Jess Overton sits down with Božo Janković, Head of Ad Monetization at GameBiz Consulting. Together, they dive into the new TCF 2.2 requirements, how to comply with them, what you need to know about Consent Management Platforms, and how to choose the right one for you. Tune in here or read the highlights below: https://www.i…
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Welcome to season 2 of the Corporate Activist Podcast. My guest for this episode is Giles Gibbons. Giles is the CEO and founder of Good Business, one of Europe's leading corporate responsibility consultancies. Giles is also the founder of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, a not-for-profit membership organisation helping restaurants to become …
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In this episode, we invite Niek Tuerlings a seasoned F2P mobile game designer and writer for naavik.co, who previously worked at Spil Games, Wooga, Voodoo, and now at Moonlit Games, a mobile studio based in Berlin. You can read the latest piece from Niek here: https://naavik.co/deep-dives/evolution-of-hybridcasual-deepdive/ We cover Niek's journey …
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In this episode, we are joined by Oscar Carbonell, currently serving as the Chief of Staff at Rossum, trained Coach and former Product Leader in games. We delve into the world of coaching and people leadership in the gaming industry, shedding light on the essential role it plays in fostering effective leadership and organizational development. The …
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We interview Taehoon Kim, the co-founder and CEO of nWay, the successful multiplayer fighting games company behind Chrono Blades and Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, acquired by Animoca Brands in 2020. TK shares his journey into the gaming industry as a serial entrepreneur, including his experience at Samsung, Real Time Worlds, and founding Nurian Softw…
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It's the last week of the season and we're getting into the big Fs: feelings, fear, friendship, family. Fun! ITINERARY: Kristen Simmons (Find Him Where You Left Him Dead) discusses the difference between Eastern and Western ghosts, why teenagers deserve real fiction, and inventing a terrifying game for her characters to play. Johnny Compton (The Sp…
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In this episode, Sophie Vo is joined by Anton Gorodetsky, the Head of Industry Relations at MyGames. Anton discusses the shift to hybrid work and MyGames' transition to fully distributed teams. They talk about the benefits of remote work, such as finding talent globally and working with international teams. They also dive into the challenges and co…
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