Award-Winning Studio Secures 6 Million SEK in Investment

Game companies within Sweden Game Startup continue to land new investments. Next in line is the Gothenburg-based game studio Oddiko, led by Linda Davidsson, which has secured its first investment of six million kronor from Behold Ventures and Windmill Game Invest.

“It has of course been a challenge to chase funding and manage private finances as a startup. But now we have reached an important milestone after two years of hard work and finally have the space to deliver creative and social game experiences for our players around the world,” says Linda Davidsson, CEO of Oddiko.

Oddiko was founded in the spring of 2022 by Linda Davidsson, Robin Bono, and Kristina Jönsson. Their business journey began when they met during the Game Creator program at YRGO in Gothenburg.

“I come from a traditional art background and have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. Despite this, I left school with the dull notion that one couldn’t make a living from art, so I spent several years exploring other professions, including welding, baking, and bartending. One day, I simply decided to be brave and invest in my creativity and art and found the right education for me,” says Linda.

During their studies, the company’s first title, Beer and Plunder, saw the light of day when they created the prototype during the course. Even then, they received the award for Best Design at Sweden Game Awards 2021, which gave them the confidence to continue.

Since then, there have been many more awards, including Best Pitch at Sweden Game Conference 2022, and most recently The Very Big Indie Pitch at Pocket Gamer Connects in London this spring.

Crucial for Our Development

During the final part of their education, they chose to discontinue their internships and instead focus on starting their own business. They then contacted Sweden Game Startup for support and guidance, which became the starting point for the founders’ entrepreneurial journey with Oddiko.

“The startup program has been an invaluable resource that has supported us with everything from pitch training, workshops, and regular personal coaching. Something that has also been crucial for our development is being able to participate in events and networking meetings, for which we have received financial support to attend,” says Linda.

Scaling Up the Project

Oddiko has now secured an investment of six million kronor from Behold Ventures and Windmill Game Invest, with plans to bring in an additional one million kronor from angel investors before closing the round. After pitching at Sweden Game Conference in October 2022, they made their first contact with Behold Ventures.

“I am extremely pleased with our investment in Oddiko. Linda and the team have impressed us, not only with a brilliant game concept, but also with their resilience and ambition. We at Behold Ventures couldn’t be happier to welcome Oddiko into our portfolio company family and I look forward to working with them to realize their grand vision for Beer and Plunder, says Sigurlína Ingvarsdóttir from Behold Ventures.

The team is now in full production.

“We have expanded our team and scaled up the project. The investment has also given us the opportunity to start an exciting collaboration with Aurora Punks, where we are working with their developers on Beer and Plunder,” says Linda.

About Beer and Plunder

Beer and Plunder is a co-op management adventure for PC where you and your friends work together to run your own Viking bar.

The goal is to gather resources from various creatures to serve food and drink to your bar guests. Besides being difficult to manage, your guests’ short tempers present an intense challenge that requires both communication and coordination. As you explore the Nordic island you are on, you will also encounter several interesting characters who can either complicate or facilitate your journey.

You can find a free Beer and Plunder demo on Steam to test with your friends and family.

About Sweden Game Arena

Sweden Game Arena has put Sweden, region Västra Götaland and the city of Skövde on the world map when it comes to games. By appearing at international game conferences, participating in international academic collaborations and creating Sweden’s leading game conference, Sweden Game Conference, the brand has reached far beyond the country’s borders.

In the growing community within Sweden Game Arena, there are several successful game companies whose games top the global bestseller lists. Most of them have made a similar journey – from game students at the University of Skövde to starting their own companies through the startup program Sweden Game Startup, which is powered by Science Park Skövde. Together, the companies form a strong community and the next big success is just around the corner.

Read more at www.swedengamearena.com