VENTURE BUILD
An execution environment, not a bootcamp.
For experienced game makers forming a new studio. $150K across three stage gates, a publisher partner from day one, and the operating structure most studios only build after their first crisis.
You’ve shipped games and you know the craft. What you haven’t done yet is build the company around it — the team, the cadence, the legal and financial spine, the publisher relationships. That learning curve is expensive and slow. We compress it.
We only work with founders who already have real game development or publishing experience. This is not a place to learn how to make games.
The three stage gates
01 / 03 4–6 months
Foundation
Set the studio up to win before you sprint. The pressure here is not a profitable hit; it’s the fundamentals that make hits possible.
Build the founding team and fill key operational roles. Establish execution habits and a professional working process. Define the studio’s edge and the long-term assets you’re building toward. Learn market nuance directly — development and UA approaches across Vietnam, Turkey and other key markets.
02 / 03 4–6 months
Full Speed
03 / 03 4–6 months
Option Maximization
What Replay brings
Capital with intent
Funding matched to your stage and milestone reality.
Operations from day one
Legal setup, finance hygiene, and the operating structure that prevents chaos later.
Strategic publishing partners
We negotiate as a collective, so founders get better terms and stronger operational backing.
Expert network
Direct access to operators and specialists when you hit a hard problem.
Growth and infrastructure partners
UA funding, platform relationships, and infrastructure deals a new studio can’t reach alone.
Fundraising readiness
We get founders ready to raise before they need to.
International exposure
Study tours in key markets, and international operators brought in to share what actually happened.
Team and hiring leverage
We help you build the team system, not just fill roles.
Category focus
Right now we’re focused on mobile puzzle — a category where studios win on taste, iteration speed and execution systems rather than budget. We’re actively exploring tower defense and idle, and expand where our support system transfers.
How to join
01
Apply. Submit your portfolio and team details. One form for both tracks.
02
Execution challenge. A single qualification task that shows how you actually work.
03
Founder alignment. Meet the Replay core team to align on ambition, working style and support needs.
04
30-day pilot. Work directly with our strategic publishing partner, building prototypes against live market data.
Questions
Do I need to wait until after the deadline to hear back?
Is this a cohort or a batch?
Does applying earlier improve my chances?
What if I’m solo / not fully formed as a team yet?
Where can I see the full recruitment process steps
Is there any learning program?
What happens once I get in?
Can I apply after Feb 14th?
What’s the point of having a deadline if candidates can apply anytime?
Why do you run it this way (rolling applications + an annual campaign window)?
What if I need more than $150K?
How do I know if I’m a fit for the Venture Builder Track or the Investment Track?
I’m still confused - can I talk to someone first?