Key Takeaways
- • Firstpoint VC launches with a €50 million fund targeting AI-driven gaming and entertainment startups across emerging markets in Türkiye, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.
- • The fund is led by General Partners Burak Yılmaz and Mike Fischer, whose combined 30+ years of experience include senior roles at WePlay Ventures, Square Enix, Epic Games, Amazon, Bandai Namco, SEGA, and Microsoft.
- • The global gaming and entertainment market is valued at approximately $600 billion today, with projections to reach $1 trillion within the next five years, positioning the fund to capture growth in an expanding sector increasingly shaped by AI adoption.
- • Firstpoint's investment thesis leverages Türkiye's proven track record of producing globally competitive gaming companies, applying this model across emerging markets in Europe and Asia where institutional capital remains early-stage but entrepreneurial talent is strong.
- • The fund is supported by a world-class Advisory Board and Venture Partner network with deep expertise across the global gaming and entertainment ecosystem.
Summary
Firstpoint Venture Capital has officially launched with a €50 million fund dedicated to investing in AI-driven gaming and entertainment startups across emerging markets. The fund targets companies operating across Türkiye, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia, addressing a strategic gap in venture capital availability for high-growth gaming and interactive media startups in these regions.
The fund is led by two General Partners with substantial operational and investment credentials. Burak Yılmaz brings over 15 years of venture capital and ecosystem development experience, having served as CEO of WePlay Ventures, Türkiye's first dedicated gaming fund, where he worked with more than 90 gaming startups across 17 countries. Mike Fischer contributes executive experience across major gaming and interactive media companies, including senior leadership roles at Square Enix, Epic Games, Amazon, Bandai Namco, SEGA, and Microsoft, with direct involvement in flagship IP including Final Fantasy, Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and Xbox. Fischer also serves as faculty in the Games and Interactive Media Program at the University of Southern California.
The fund's investment thesis reflects a conviction that Türkiye's demonstrated capability for producing globally competitive gaming companies can be successfully replicated across other emerging markets in Europe and Asia. This strategy targets regions characterized by early-stage institutional capital infrastructure but increasingly robust entrepreneurial talent pools. The timing capitalizes on significant industry tailwinds: the combined global gaming and entertainment market today exceeds $600 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion within five years, spanning mobile games, video games, game technology, interactive media, consumer apps, and sports and music tech. AI's rapid integration into product development, user acquisition, and scaling operations amplifies the strategic relevance of this thesis.
Beyond the General Partners, Firstpoint has assembled an Advisory Board and Venture Partner network with deep expertise across the global gaming and entertainment ecosystem, positioning the fund to provide both capital and operational support to portfolio companies navigating emerging markets.
The fund is led by two General Partners with substantial operational and investment credentials. Burak Yılmaz brings over 15 years of venture capital and ecosystem development experience, having served as CEO of WePlay Ventures, Türkiye's first dedicated gaming fund, where he worked with more than 90 gaming startups across 17 countries. Mike Fischer contributes executive experience across major gaming and interactive media companies, including senior leadership roles at Square Enix, Epic Games, Amazon, Bandai Namco, SEGA, and Microsoft, with direct involvement in flagship IP including Final Fantasy, Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and Xbox. Fischer also serves as faculty in the Games and Interactive Media Program at the University of Southern California.
The fund's investment thesis reflects a conviction that Türkiye's demonstrated capability for producing globally competitive gaming companies can be successfully replicated across other emerging markets in Europe and Asia. This strategy targets regions characterized by early-stage institutional capital infrastructure but increasingly robust entrepreneurial talent pools. The timing capitalizes on significant industry tailwinds: the combined global gaming and entertainment market today exceeds $600 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion within five years, spanning mobile games, video games, game technology, interactive media, consumer apps, and sports and music tech. AI's rapid integration into product development, user acquisition, and scaling operations amplifies the strategic relevance of this thesis.
Beyond the General Partners, Firstpoint has assembled an Advisory Board and Venture Partner network with deep expertise across the global gaming and entertainment ecosystem, positioning the fund to provide both capital and operational support to portfolio companies navigating emerging markets.
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