Venture capital firm Firstpoint VC has announced the launch of a new fund with a target size of €50 million, specifically designed to invest in gaming and entertainment startups leveraging Artificial Intelligence. The fund focuses on high-growth markets across Turkey, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.
The fund is led by General Partners Burak Yılmaz and Mike Fischer, who bring a combined 30 years of expertise in investment and operational management. Their track record spans over 20 countries and includes leadership roles at global giants such as WePlay Ventures, Square Enix, Epic Games, Amazon, Bandai Namco, SEGA, and Microsoft.
The global gaming and entertainment market is currently valued at approximately $600 billion, with projections suggesting it could hit $1 trillion within the next five years. This segment encompasses mobile and video games, game-tech, interactive media, consumer apps, and the convergence of sports, music, and technology. Against this backdrop, AI has emerged as a transformative force, redefining development pipelines, user growth, and scalability.
AI and emerging markets
Firstpoint VC’s strategy is built at the intersection of AI, gaming, and rapidly evolving markets. The fund operates on the premise that the successful model proven in the Turkish gaming ecosystem can be effectively scaled across other emerging economies in Europe and Asia.
- Burak Yılmaz previously served as CEO of WePlay Ventures, Turkey’s first fund dedicated exclusively to the gaming industry. During his tenure, he worked with over 90 gaming startups across 17 countries, focusing on ecosystem building in markets where institutional capital is still maturing despite high entrepreneurial potential.
- Mike Fischer contributes immense operational depth, having managed world-renowned franchises such as Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider, Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and Xbox. In addition to his corporate background in the US, UK, and Japan, he serves as a faculty member in the Games and Interactive Media program at the University of Southern California.
Beyond the General Partners, Firstpoint VC has assembled a formidable Advisory Board and a network of venture partners. The board includes Jen MacLean (former GM at Xbox), Luke Dicken (former Head of AI at Take-Two Interactive), and Bora Koçyiğit (former Country Manager at Riot Games).
The fund’s investment logic is rooted in the “Turkish Success Story.” Over the last decade, Turkey has produced three unicorns—Peak Games, Dream Games, and Loom Games—achieving these milestones faster and with less capital than many other sectors. Firstpoint believes similar structural precursors are now forming in:
- Poland: Strengthening its position as a leading hub for PC and console gaming.
- Vietnam: Rapidly becoming a global leader in mobile game downloads.
- Central Asia: Emerging as a promising frontier for digital investment due to its strong talent base and strategic geographic location.
