ilker (生きる) Yoldas.

CEO

Turkey19 yrs 7 mos experience
Most Likely To Switch

Key Highlights

  • 20+ years in gaming industry
  • Expert in monetization design and retention systems
  • Successful advisor for gaming startups
Stackforce AI infers this person is a Game Product Strategy expert with a focus on monetization and retention in the gaming industry.

Contact

LinkedIn

Skills

Core Skills

InvestmentsGame Product StrategyLive OpsData-driven Growth

Other Skills

Early-Stage StartupsPrivate EquityProject ManagementPeople ManagementConcept DevelopmentProduct VisionBusiness DevelopmentManagementGameplayProduction ManagementLevel DesignExpert AdvisorAngel InvestingPublic SpeakingAuthor

About

Games Product Strategy. Angel Investor. Game Scout. Gaming Startup Advisor. Public Speaker. Author. With 20+ years in gaming and 10+ in leadership, İlker has held senior roles, they specialize in LTV and retention systems, monetization design, and AI-driven personalization. Recognized for structuring creative teams, scaling live portfolios, and guiding studios through successful transitions. İlker is known for turning fragmented pipelines into operational frameworks, scaling studios and portfolios through disciplined data use and structural clarity. Core Competence: Game Product Strategy | Monetization Design | Live Ops | Data-Driven Growth | AI Personalization | Cross-Team Leadership | System Architecture | Framework Design | Decision Systems Track Record: – Scaled live titles across multiple markets. – Built and standardized monetization frameworks. – Improved retention and LTV with data-driven live ops. – Delivered consistent ROI across product and UA cycles. – Guided studios to acquisition by major publishers. – Defined team operating systems for durable output. Open to collaborating with founders, publishers, and operators focused on building sustainable game systems. Developers: Email me your demo/deck if you’re building game prototypes.. I review projects for investment, and scout titles to present to funds. Absolutely no DMs! Speaker at industry conferences, and contributor to thought leadership in modern game economics, investments, and capital. Author with an upcoming book (WiP). Looking for a publisher. ¡

Experience

Hustle fund

Angel Investor

Nov 2023 – Present · 2 yrs 4 mos · San Francisco Bay Area

  • Hustle Fund deploys $150k pre-seed checks into software companies.. fast decisions, pre-seed only, software-first.
  • Domains: B2B, fintech, digital health, SaaS, infra, tooling, selective consumer software, games, and emerging markets.
  • My scope inside the squad: games, systems, infrastructure, loop and retention mechanics, unit-economic integrity.
InvestmentsEarly-Stage StartupsPrivate EquityGame Product Strategy

Homa

Lead Game Product – Game Ops

Jan 2023 – Oct 2023 · 9 mos · France · Remote

  • 100% REMOTE
  • Managed live-ops roadmap and content planning for high-performing titles.
  • Introduced standardized A/B experimentation improving engagement and retention.
  • Coordinated multi-studio post-launch optimization workflow.
Project ManagementPeople ManagementConcept DevelopmentProduct VisionBusiness DevelopmentManagement+5

Azur games

Senior Product Manager at TastyPill (games acquired by Azur Games)

Oct 2021 – Jan 2023 · 1 yr 3 mos · GA 30062, United States

  • 100% REMOTE
  • Led product operations and analytics alignment across global teams.
  • Improved retention and LTV through structured event cycles and feature cadence.
  • Collaborated with marketing and UA teams for integrated growth planning.
Project ManagementConcept DevelopmentProduct VisionBusiness DevelopmentManagementGameplay+4

Portg.com

Port Games

Aug 2019 – Jan 2021 · 1 yr 5 mos · Hamburg, Germany

  • Designed gameplay loops, mechanics, and early prototype systems.
  • Produced UI flows, wireframes, and asset specifications for in-house teams.
  • Supported feature implementation through tight coordination with engineering.
  • Ran playtests and documented issues, balancing, and usability fixes.
  • Delivered design documentation used across multiple small-scale titles.
Concept DevelopmentBusiness DevelopmentGameplayLevel DesignGame Product Strategy

Infosoft ni

Game Advisor

Jul 2019 – Sep 2021 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

  • 100% REMOTE
  • Designed core loops, systems, and UX for early PC/web titles.
  • Built prototype tooling and documentation for engineers and artists.
  • Conducted player-flow analysis and improved retention funnels.
  • Delivered UI, interaction models, and feature specs for multiple projects.
  • Coordinated with tech leads to align design scope with production capacity.
  • Supported live updates with balance changes and content extensions.
Business DevelopmentGameplayGame Product Strategy

Lotus game studios

Creative Lead

Feb 2019 – Dec 2019 · 10 mos · Istanbul, Turkey

  • 100% REMOTE
  • Produced multiple hyper-casual prototypes with rapid iteration cycles.
  • Directed art, design, and prototype scope for weekly MVP builds.
  • Built production templates and creative guidelines for faster throughput.
  • Coordinated with engineering to ensure stable, lightweight prototype pipelines.
  • Delivered systems, UX flows, and feature specs used across early-stage titles.
Concept DevelopmentGameplayLevel DesignGame Product Strategy

Adcolony

Senior Interactive Designer

Jan 2018 – Feb 2019 · 1 yr 1 mo · HYBRID - MULTIPLE TIME ZONES

  • Produced high-performance interactive ads and playable content.
  • Collaborated with UA and creative teams for testing and iteration frameworks.
GameplayGame Product Strategy

Bearwolf studios

Senior Producer

Sep 2015 – Dec 2016 · 1 yr 3 mos · CA 90274. United States

  • Designed core mechanics, UX flows, and feature specs for early PC/web titles.
  • Built prototype documentation and production-ready design assets.
  • Coordinated with engineering on implementation constraints and system behavior.
  • Ran internal playtests and delivered balancing, tuning, and usability adjustments.
  • Supported live updates with content extensions and design revisions.

Ntroy

Senior Design Director

Aug 2012 – Jan 2018 · 5 yrs 5 mos · Malta

  • Directed design, UX, and content pipelines across MMO, RPG, and FPS projects.
  • Delivered more than twenty titles across global markets with multi-studio coordination.
  • Managed partnerships with Nexon, Valve, Runewaker, Object Software, and LightningSoft.
  • Led Live Ops design for legacy title relaunches and cross-region expansions.
  • Built scalable documentation, asset workflows, and production systems for distributed teams.
  • Reduced art and content pipeline delays through structural and tooling improvements.
Concept DevelopmentGameplayLevel DesignGame Product Strategy

Peak games

Head of Design

Dec 2011 – Aug 2012 · 8 mos · Ankara, Turkey

  • Oversaw design and creative production for online and social titles in TR/MENA markets.
  • Implemented unified design language improving acquisition and engagement.

Global game center

Senior Designer

Jan 2009 – Dec 2011 · 2 yrs 11 mos · Marmaris, Muğla, Turkey

  • Designed interfaces and environments for PC/browser games.
  • Mentored junior designers and standardized workflows.
Concept DevelopmentGameplayLevel DesignGame Product Strategy

Jotform

Experience Designer

Sep 2008 – Mar 2013 · 4 yrs 6 mos · San Francisco, California, United States

  • 100% REMOTE
  • Designed interfaces, flows, and interaction models for core product features.
  • Built UX guidelines and component standards used across the platform.
  • Conducted user testing and delivered data-driven improvements to form creation flows.
  • Produced wireframes, prototypes, and specs for engineering handoff.
  • Streamlined onboarding and reduced friction across key user journeys.

Fikr-i harika

Designer

Nov 2006 – Jan 2009 · 2 yrs 2 mos · Ankara, Turkey

  • Designed gameplay systems and levels aligned with player psychology.
  • Contributed to multiple successful game prototypes.
Concept DevelopmentGameplayLevel DesignGame Product Strategy

Grou.ps inc.

Producer

Jul 2006 – Aug 2008 · 2 yrs 1 mo · Santa Clara, California, United States

  • 100% REMOTE
  • Oversaw client onboarding and project delivery for online community platforms.
  • Facilitated feature implementation and cross-team collaboration.
Concept DevelopmentGameplayLevel DesignGame Product Strategy

Education

University of Southampton

BSc — Economics

Jan 2003 – Jan 2006

CAISL - Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Jan 2001 – Jan 2003

Hacettepe University

MFA — Design

Jan 2008 – Jan 2009

Stackforce found 100+ more professionals with Investments & Game Product Strategy

Explore similar profiles based on matching skills and experience

CF

Christopher Franklin

Accumulated Expertise

at Career-Wide Experience

India0 mo exp
Game Design ExcellencePlayer-Centric Product InnovationStudio Leadership
Sarvasva Malik

Sarvasva Malik

Product Designer

at Mobile Premier League (MPL)

Delhi, India1 yr 9 mos exp
Game DesignGraphic DesignUI UX
Abhinav Chokhavatia / Shivani Chokhavatia

Abhinav Chokhavatia / Shivani Chokhavatia

Director

at Hello Metaverse

Ahmedabad, India21 yrs 11 mos exp
Metaverse DevelopmentBlockchain GamingGame DevelopmentBusiness Development
Bharath Rajagopalan

Bharath Rajagopalan

CTO

at Planet League

Bengaluru, India16 yrs 3 mos exp
Content StrategyGo-to-Market StrategyProduct OperationsProduct Road MappingProgram Management
Rojalin Das

Rojalin Das

Assistant Manager

at Eloelo

Bengaluru, India6 yrs 7 mos exp
Campaign ManagementCommunity ManagementContent ManagementContent StrategyCustomer Service Management
Abhishek Sinha

Abhishek Sinha

Senior Software Development Engineer in Test 2

at Disney+ Hotstar

Bengaluru, India11 yrs 11 mos exp
Performance TestingQuality AssuranceTest Automation
Pratik Shedge

Pratik Shedge

Associate Product Manager

at Hike

Pune, India8 yrs 9 mos exp
Product ManagementProduct StrategyQuality Assurance
PD

Phil Dumas, CFA

Portfolio Manager, Convertible Arbitrage

at Alchemy Capital Mgmt, a division of Millennium Capital Partners LLP

Chicago, United States26 yrs 8 mos exp
Convertible BondsCreditPortfolio Management