Business Finland supports creative industries – Makea Games has sped up the development of its new game

Makea Games received RRF funding of approximately EUR 50,000 and used it to develop content production tools for one of its games. RRF funding is part of the European Union’s recovery funding, which promotes structural renewal in business and industry and the creation of a competitive edge based on Finnish companies’ sustainable solutions

“Thanks to the funding, we were able to add editing tools to the game, which enable our users and partners to add content to the game", says Teemu Vilén, chief operating officer at Makea Games.

You cannot overstate the importance of Business Finland’s funding

Business Finland has also granted Makea Games Tempo funding for an amount corresponding to the RRF funding. In other words, it has granted the company a total of EUR 100,000. Makea Games has used the Tempo funding, which is a funding program aimed at startups that have been in business for less than five years, to develop its product strategy. 

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The Makea Games team in 2022. From left to right starting from the top row; Suman Rath (Founder, Chair of the Board), Teemu Vilén (Chief Operating Officer), Eszter Puzsik (3D Artist). Middle row; Bea Saikko (Founder, Art Director), Tony Kihlberg (Founder, Lead Artist), Ville Valtiala (Founder, Chief Technology Officer). Front row; Severi Suominen (Founder, Lead Programmer), Tomi Toikka (Founder, Creative Director & Chief Executive Officer).

 According to Teemu Vilén, the importance of Business Finland’s funding cannot be overstated. He also says that the application process for both types of funding was straightforward.

“The same online tool was used to apply for both of the funding amounts, and Business Finland was always there to help us. The funding enables us to develop our product strategy further, which is important in order to gain a competitive advantage on the international market. In addition, we can further improve our market analysis, commercial specifications, and prototypes, for example", Vilén says.

Business Finland is prominently featured in several events aimed at gaming operators. Indeed, Vilén and his colleagues had already met a representative of Business Finland at an industry event before applying for funding became relevant.

“Many people in this field have worked for a company funded by Business Finland at some point in their career. I had no personal experience in making funding applications, but all the necessary communication, such as submitting applications and the related paperwork, could be handled easily on Business Finland’s website",”Vilén says.

Vilén emphasizes how important funding is for a gaming company in its early stages: Makea Games is currently developing its first game that utilizes game mechanics employing user-generated content (UGC). In UGC games, the player can easily design and create content, such as new game levels, for the game. Consumers, and therefore also many international investors, are now particularly interested in UGC games. As a result, competition in the market is extremely intense.

“In addition, the company can benefit from Business Finland’s vision and networks. Everything suggests that Business Finland stands by each company", Vilén says.

Expanding to other creative industries

There are about 200 game studios in Finland, and the turnover of the Finnish gaming industry is about EUR 3 billion. The industry employs around 3,600 people, and it also attracts a great deal of international talent to Finland. In Finland, one in three people working in the gaming industry is an immigrant. According to Olli Sinerma, senior adviser at Business Finland, the gaming industry is an excellent field to fund in financial terms.

- Digitally distributed entertainment products can be scaled up exponentially, as their distribution volumes can be increased at no additional cost. Furthermore, in the gaming industry, small teams can make millions even on a fast schedule. On average, the funding granted to the gaming industry has returned to society 20 times over,” Sinerma says.

Despite its small size, Finland has generated hit games for consoles, computers, and mobile devices. Some of the world’s most famous mobile games, such as Angry Birds and Clash of Clans, are made in Finland.

Bold ideas that push the envelope and harness technological change could well have international potential.

Business Finland has supported the initial stages of every Finnish gaming company. Sinerma also hopes that other creative industries, such as the movie, book, and music industry, would seek more active cooperation with Business Finland. Bold ideas that push the envelope and take advantage of technological change could well have international potential.

“The gaming industry makes good use of our services, but thanks to technology, other creative industries are also undergoing changes. For example, scriptwriters and concept artists can use artificial intelligence as a tool, and digital game development tools are already part of movie productions. Augmented reality technology and, in particular, block chains have not yet delivered on their promises in the entertainment industry, and they could offer the creative industry plenty of unexplored potential. We would be happy to fund such companies that aim for large international growth", Sinerma says.

The last RRF funding call for creative industries began on March 6. The aim is to increase the RDI intensity of the creative economy in the long term and strengthen cooperation between businesses and research organizations.

Funding call to support the renewal and growth of the creative economy


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