
Gamelynx
GameLynx wants to build a competitive eSport game to bring hardcore gaming to mobile.
Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
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investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
investor investor investor | €0.0 | round | |
$1.2m | Debt | ||
Total Funding | 000k |
Gamelynx, a mobile game developer, was established in 2016 by co-founders Alexander Mistakidis and Carter Minshull. The company focuses on creating team-based, competitive mobile games designed to be easily watchable and cross-platform compatible. Its primary market consists of hardcore gamers on mobile devices, aiming to deliver action-packed social experiences accessible to both PC and mobile gamers.
The founders' backgrounds are deeply rooted in gaming and technology. Mistakidis, a lifelong gamer with a Computer Science degree from the University of Waterloo, previously worked at Riot Games on *League of Legends* and on a fitness app called PumpUp. His experience in the esports industry shaped the company's direction. Minshull also graduated from the University of Waterloo, initially studying physics before transitioning to computer science, driven by his passion for gaming. His experience includes R&D in software and academic research, which he applies to game design and development.
Gamelynx's business strategy centered on developing mobile-first, competitive games that are fast-paced and light on mobile data. They aimed to create a more accessible experience than complex PC esports titles, which often have high informational barriers for new players and spectators. The initial concept pitched at Y Combinator was a website for playing digital board games, which later pivoted to the mobile esports focus. The company utilized the Unity game engine, allowing for potential deployment to other platforms in the future.
The company successfully raised a total of $1.32 million over two seed rounds. The first round on August 21, 2017, secured $120,000 from Y Combinator, as part of the Summer 2017 batch. A subsequent seed round on May 18, 2018, raised $1.2 million, with investors including Riot Games, Skycatcher, M Ventures, and others. Despite its efforts and a passionate team, Gamelynx ceased operations in 2020. The shutdown was attributed to several factors, including the challenge of developing a large-scale live service game with a small team, poor initial metrics that deterred further investment, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fundraising efforts. Following Gamelynx, founder Alexander Mistakidis went on to work on the game *VALORANT* and founded a new game studio, Double Dusk.
Keywords: mobile game developer, esports, competitive gaming, team-based games, Y Combinator, Alexander Mistakidis, Carter Minshull, Riot Games, cross-platform games, mobile esports, venture funding, Unity game engine, game development studio, hardcore gamers, multiplayer games, live service games, video games, digital games, startup, game studio