Asia Tech Podcast - Michael Waitze Media Michael Waitze Media

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Quote: “Gaming is a space with so much uncertainty, but the reward is super high.” 



In this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast, Michael Waitze is joined by Rick Nahm, the COO, and Co-Founder of GTR Accelerator, an interactive accelerator program dedicated to supporting studios from all over the world. 



The program aims to accelerate the development of early-stage game studios through assisting with building equity structures, improving game development, matching publishers and partners to studios, and more. 



They discussed Rick’s past experience, his transition from strategy consulting to becoming an entrepreneur, as well as his insights on the growing gaming industry.



Leaving Your Comfort Zone



“When you’ve got a nice strip, it's very hard to let go,” said Rick. 



When it comes to your career, there is no success-guaranteed option waiting for you if you decide to leave. Jobs that once seemed stable and foolproof can often end up not existing at all due to factors such as economic crisis’ - or especially during a pandemic. 



Leaving a job can be intimidating and at times scary due to the risks involved, but leaving a job you’re comfortable in adds another layer of stress and difficulty into the equation. 



When Rick decided to leave his previous job to carve out his own path, he said that it was very hard to let go because he was in such a comfortable position. But, although his comfort zone was a beautiful place to stay, he knew that staying there wouldn’t produce any growth, and thus decided to finally let everything go. 



Rick detailed the rollercoaster of emotions as he went back and forth between the options presented in front of him, and what finally gave him the motivation to start his own business. 



Getting Your Head in the Game



In the world of entrepreneurship and foundership, doing everything and anything at any given time, and being constantly overwhelmed and exhausted seemed to be a badge of honour.



Rick had always wanted to “stick around for the execution” of anything he was working on, and even admitted that he thought “consulting is a scam because the consultants don’t stick around.” However, there is only so much someone can handle at one time and Rick understood that.



“We’re not trying to do everything. From day one, we wanted to establish an ecosystem in the industry, a healthy one, and try to fix the needs of not just the studios but all the players within the system,” explained Rick. 



He then went on to share some valuable insights about working in the fintech and gaming industry, how GTR Accelerator picked and chose studios from around the globe and how he defined success. 



High Risks but Higher Rewards



In life, uncertainty is certain, Rick contemplated. Although the gaming industry is hugely successful and rising in popularity each year, making it one of the most unique industries to work in, it is still one of the most uncertain. 



They discussed the reasons why game studios find it so tough when trying to acquire investments and funding. Rick discussed how the traditional investment community is still unfamiliar with the gaming industry and what success could come out of it, thus they feel a reluctance to contribute to their growth. 



He then went on to explain how GTR Accelerators try to solve this issue, and a myriad of other services they provide, including building equity structure, acquiring funding, creating business decks and pitches, as well as how to get publishers and partners. 



To learn more about Rick Nahm and his transition from corporate to a smaller business, the rising gaming industry, and more, listen to this episode of the Asia Tech Podcast today.

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