Istanbul-based Mindtail has raised $2 million in a pre-seed round. APY Ventures led the raise. Inveo Ventures and Ak Portföy GSYF joined as co-investors.
Mindtail will spend the money on bringing in new staff, building AI-based production systems, and running marketing tests. The studio is working towards a team roughly three times its current size. A first game title will be announced in the near future.
Studio founders bring experience from some of mobile gaming’s biggest titles
The studio was founded by R. Tamer Özgen, Umut Yıldız, Sarper Karabağ, and Doğuşcan Öztürk, who built Mindtail around hybrid casual puzzle games and an AI-powered production model. The founding team came from Dream Games, King, Tactile, Ace Games, and Codeway, where they held roles across product, growth, and development. Their combined work spans Royal Match, Royal Kingdom, Lily’s Garden, Candy Crush Soda, and the Braindom series — titles that have reached hundreds of millions of players. Ece Özgüle is the studio’s Art Director.
Keçeli: “Game production as a capital efficiency game”
APY Ventures Fund Manager Mustafa Keçeli said: “What sets Mindtail apart is a founding philosophy that views game-making not just as a creative discipline, but as a capital efficiency game — where economics, production architecture, and timing align. A team with critical roles in globally successful titles placing AI-native production at the core of the company’s DNA from day one turns the per-iteration economic disadvantage of a hit-driven category into an advantage.”
Inveo Ventures’ Haluk Nişli noted: “Mindtail’s track record of working together, depth in product and growth, and rapid prototyping culture reflect what differentiating studios need in this new era. We’re proud to be among the first investors to back this newly founded studio.”
Ak Portföy GSYF’s Hüseyin Çelik added: “Mindtail stands out with its internationally proven founding team and AI-driven production approach. Türkiye’s recent billion-dollar exits clearly demonstrate the ecosystem’s global potential, and we believe Mindtail will be a major player as the AI transformation accelerates.”
Özgen: “Aiming to set a new standard”
Mindtail Co-Founder and CEO R. Tamer Özgen said: “This round is the moment our collective experience materializes. We aim to combine what we’ve learned from products serving hundreds of millions of players with an AI-native production model to set a new standard in hybrid casual puzzle. We’ve also created a meaningful option pool for those joining us — founder-employee alignment from day one is a top priority.”
About Mindtail
An Istanbul-based mobile gaming studio building hybrid casual puzzle games with an AI-native production model.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mindtail’s $2 Million Funding Round
How much funding has Mindtail raised?
Istanbul-based mobile gaming studio Mindtail has raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round. APY Ventures led the investment, with Inveo Ventures and Ak Portföy GSYF also participating.
Who invested in Mindtail?
The $2 million Mindtail funding round was led by APY Ventures, with Inveo Ventures and Ak Portföy GSYF joining as co-investors.
What will Mindtail use the $2 million funding for?
Mindtail plans to use the funding to expand its team, build AI-based or AI-native game production systems and run marketing tests. The studio also plans to grow its team to roughly three times its current size in the near term.
What type of games is Mindtail developing?
Mindtail is developing hybrid casual puzzle games for the mobile gaming market. The studio is combining experience in mobile game development with an AI-native production model.
What does AI-native game production mean?
AI-native game production means building artificial intelligence into the core development workflow rather than treating it as an isolated feature. Mindtail is using this approach to rethink production processes and support areas such as art, level design and rapid prototyping.
Who founded Mindtail?
Mindtail was founded by R. Tamer Özgen, Umut Yıldız, Sarper Karabağ and Doğuşcan Öztürk. The founding team has experience across companies including Dream Games, King, Tactile, Ace Games and Codeway.
What is Mindtail’s first game?
Mindtail had not publicly announced its first game title at the time of the funding announcement. The studio said its first title would be announced in the near future.
Why is Mindtail’s funding important for Turkey’s gaming industry?
The investment highlights continued international interest in Türkiye’s mobile gaming ecosystem. Mindtail’s founding team brings experience from globally successful mobile games, while its AI-native production strategy reflects a broader shift towards using AI to improve game development speed and efficiency.
What is a hybrid casual puzzle game?
Hybrid casual puzzle games combine the accessible gameplay of casual mobile games with deeper features such as progression systems, collection mechanics, live operations or more complex monetisation and engagement systems.
How large does Mindtail plan to grow its team?
Mindtail plans to expand its team to roughly three times its current size in the near term as it develops its AI-native production infrastructure and works towards its first game launch.
What makes Mindtail different from a traditional mobile game studio?
Mindtail is positioning AI-native production as a core part of its company structure and development process. Its strategy combines an experienced founding team with AI-supported production systems and a focus on hybrid casual puzzle games.
Is Mindtail a UK gaming company?
No. Mindtail is based in Istanbul, Türkiye. However, its funding round is relevant to the wider international gaming and AI startup sector, including UK readers tracking global gaming investment and AI-driven game development.
What companies have Mindtail’s founders previously worked with?
The founding team has experience from companies including Dream Games, King, Tactile, Ace Games and Codeway. Their previous work has been connected with titles including Royal Match, Royal Kingdom, Lily’s Garden, Candy Crush Soda and the Braindom series.
