About Me
Who I Am
Tolga Ozturk, dedicated business leader with hands-on product experiences.
With years of experience and a passion for game and app industry, Tolga Ozturk leads many startups and corporations as a manager, leader, producer...
Data-driven Product Manager with a Computer Engineering background and 13+ years of experience in the gaming and technology sectors. Proven track record of managing full product lifecycles from concept to launch for global titles. Expert in bridging the gap between engineering, design, and business teams to deliver high-quality user experiences. Skilled in analyzing user data to optimize retention strategies (increasing rates from 25% to 50%+) and leading cross-functional teams of 60+ talents. Passionate about creating engaging experiences and scaling businesses globally and eager to channel strategic insight and adaptive leadership gained in the startup ecosystem.
Achievements
What I Achieved More
"Startup and product successes must be managed paralel to achieve more."
Tolga Ozturk
WORK EXPERIENCE
I had many hands on experiences into gaming vertical with different roles, but also I involved some app companies as a mentor.
Funverse Games
Founder - CEO - Product Lead
2021-2025
Product Strategy & Roadmap: Led the end-to-end product development of the MOBA battle-royale title "Hit and Boom," defining core mechanics, product vision, and a robust go-to-market strategy for global markets. Fundraising & Strategic Recognition: Secured $1.2M+ in VC funding by demonstrating product viability and market fit. This strategic financial management led the company to be recognized as one of the "LinkedIn Top Startups 2022." Global Leadership Excellence: Awarded "Best Founder" at the Global Startup Awards 2024, recognizing exceptional leadership, vision, and the ability to scale a high-growth tech venture. Data-Driven Optimization: Systematically analyzed player behavior and motivation metrics to refine UX/UI, resulting in a 20% decrease in User Acquisition (UA) costs and improved long-term engagement. High-Scale Team Management: Managed a cross-functional team of 60+ developers, artists, and designers, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring agile delivery of complex milestones. Cross-Border Operations: Orchestrated operational synergy between US and TR offices, managing legal, financial, and cultural transitions for a global scaling effort.
Hi Games
Partner - Project Manager
2019-2021
Strategic Growth & Retention: Spearheaded the product optimization and data-driven strategy for Ground Digger, successfully scaling the Day 1 retention from 25% to over 50% through rigorous UX analysis and player motivation modeling. Market Leadership: Orchestrated the game’s trajectory to reach #1 in the US App Store (Games) and #3 in the US App Store (Overall) within the first quarter of 2022. Performance at Scale: Managed the lifecycle of a global hit that secured millions of downloads, leveraging technical production expertise to bridge the gap between business development and product-market fit. Data-Driven Iteration: Analyzed large-scale user datasets to identify churn points, implementing high-impact features that maximized player lifetime value (LTV) and sustained top-chart rankings in the US market.
Game Factory
Partner - Business Strategyst
2020-2023
Strategic Advisory: Provided end-to-end mentorship to emerging game studios, focusing on building scalable business infrastructures, product development roadmaps, and long-term growth strategies.
Business & Legal Foundation: Guided startups through the complexities of establishing a legal basis for new ventures, including corporate structuring and intellectual property considerations.
Revenue & Deal Engineering: Expertly architected diverse revenue models and deal formats, ensuring sustainable monetization and optimized commercial terms for partner studios.
GameX Digital Game and Entertainment Expo
General Director
2016-2018
Strategic Leadership: Spearheaded the overall strategic vision and execution of the EEMEA region’s most prominent gaming and entertainment expo, managing large-scale operations and multi-disciplinary teams. Business Development & Partnerships: Orchestrated high-level negotiations and secured strategic partnerships with global industry giants (publishers, hardware brands, and tech providers), significantly increasing sponsorship revenue and brand presence. Stakeholder Management: Acted as the primary liaison between government bodies, international trade associations, and private sector leaders to foster a collaborative ecosystem for the regional gaming industry. P&L & Resource Optimization: Managed multi-million dollar budgets, ensuring financial sustainability through diversified revenue streams, cost-control measures, and optimized resource allocation. Exhibition & Experience Design: Oversaw the transformation of the event experience, integrating B2B matchmaking platforms, indie developer zones, and high-production esports tournaments to cater to diverse audience segments. Marketing & Public Relations: Directed comprehensive marketing and communication strategies that reached millions of gamers, resulting in record-breaking attendance figures and extensive international media coverage.
Abyss Gameworks
Founder - COO - Business Deveoper
2016-2017
We build the game titled "Tartarus" on Steam. We nominated "Best PC Game of the Year" award on Kristal Piksel Game Awards in 2018. We sold +5000 copy. This was our first game development experience as a independent developer.
RealityArts
Community Manager
2015-2016
We build the game titled "Voidrunner" on Steam.
Riot Games
Community Manager (Volunteer)
2012-2015
I ran the community management strategy and events on universities.
I organized the first University League tournament and sold the idea ESL to get outsourced from Riot Games. I help them to get outsourced and organize the event with from concept.
DOGDOK (Digital Game Development and Esports Society) - Yildiz Technical University
Founder - Chairman
2011-2015
I ran the community management strategy and events on universities.
I organized the first University League tournament and sold the idea ESL to get outsourced from Riot Games. I help them to get outsourced and organize the event with from concept.