Griffin Gaming Partners launches $100m indie dev fund, led by Hooded Horse CEO Tim Bender
Griffin Gaming Partners, a venture capital firm, has launched a $100 million fund to support independent game developers. The Special Opportunities Fund (SOF) introduces an alternative financing model where capital is provided in exchange for a share of a game’s future revenue, rather than taking an equity stake.
This project-based financing approach differs from traditional venture capital and represents a shift in how indie games are funded. The fund is led by Tim Bender, who serves as both CEO of Hooded Horse and a managing director at Griffin Gaming Partners, a position he has held since joining as an operating partner in October 2023.
According to Nick Tuosto, Griffin’s co-founder and managing director, the new fund allows the firm to “diversify its risk” across its substantial portfolio of game investments. The revenue-share model offers financial flexibility distinct from traditional equity-based venture funding, potentially providing indie developers with an alternative path to securing capital without significant equity dilution. This approach could reshape funding dynamics in the independent game sector.