Towards a better game studio.
All successful studios have been where you are. Stuck between one growth phase and the next, hobbled by growing pains. I can help you navigate the uncertainty of those uncomfortable in-between phases, and take your studio to the next level.
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Running a Game Studio Is NOT Intuitive
You started your studio to make amazing games. You’ve seen success, and want to take the next step. But most days you feel more like a firefighter than a successful entrepreneur. Some days, you can hardly recall the passion that started you on this path.
You wish you could spend more time on the things that matter most to you. You want better results, less friction. You want peace of mind.
Unfortunately, running a studio well isn’t intuitive or easy. But what if I told you it could be simple?
Focus, Alignment and Accountability
All successful studios share three key traits: they have managed to attain incredible levels of focus, alignment, and accountability.
Imagine if your studio looked like this:
A clear long-term goal that is shared by all, and informs daily decision making on all levels. A crisply defined set of values as the foundation of a healthy studio culture. A steady meeting rhythm that drives your operations and decision-making. The right people in the right seats, solving studio issues in a proactive manner. Everyone has clear priorities, and knows how their work contributes to the studio’s goals.
Better results would be an inevitability.
It’s Dangerous To Go Alone
I help my clients attain the results above, and more.
Together, we develop a clear studio strategy, set up solid management structures and processes, and develop your self-awareness as leaders of a creative company.
Most coaches will focus on either the first two, or the latter, but getting all three locked in is critical for sustained success.
Using practical, proven tools and frameworks, we get you up and running on all three accounts.
About me
I worked in the videogame industry for more than a decade before becoming a business coach and consultant in 2021.
Building on this experience, I have developed a framework that will help you lead your studio with more confidence, and get better results with less friction. So far, I have helped 150+ CEO’s, founders and leaders implement meaningful improvements towards their dream studio.
For each of my services, I aim to deliver results worth at least 3x your initial investment.
If that sounds like an investment worth making, let’s talk!
How I can help
How We Can Work Together
I offer three core trajectories for working together. In each trajectory you can expect unlimited access to me by phone, email and whatsapp. And for each trajectory, you should expect to make a return on your investment (because that’s what it is) of 300%.
Single-Player
1:1 CEO Coaching
Meeting twice a month, we go through the work that is necessary to bring your company and yourself to the next level.
In any given session, we have the freedom to discuss something from my toolbox, or to dive into a pressing matter that is hogging your attention.
Duration: 6-12 months
Multi-Player
Team Workshops
I work with you and your team to build a strong foundation for your studio, using the Long Game OS framework I developed through my coaching work.
Over the course of 90 days, we meet for 4 days of fundamental work. In this time, we’ll cover everything from your company vision and core values to your meeting rhythm and KPIs, developing a true OS for your studio.
Duration: 90 days
Multi-Player
Workshops for Indies
Over the course of one day, I will guide you and your team through the basics of studio management.
This workshop is built around the FIRM framework for indie studio management, and will have you examine your long term plans for the studio, your goal setting process, your meeting structure and the way you track and solve studio issues.
Duration: 1 day
Plan a call with me to discuss which approach fits your studio best.
What other people say about me
Hear It From Your Peers
Peter de Jong
Founder & CEO, Codeglue
“Martijn has helped me and my leadership team to get better to formulate a vision, so everyone in our organization is on the same page with where we’re going and how we plan to get there. He’s helped us to keep focus, discipline, and accountability throughout the company and has made our leadership team more cohesive, functional and healthy.”
Mike Zhang
Founder, Outfox Games
“I came to Martijn with questions on how to handle the business side of a small indie game company. Martijn provided solutions and immediately identified our areas of improvement. He provided a framework and system that would be both helpful and efficient. Then helped us implement this framework to work with our specific situation, providing practical tools, resources, and follow-up meetings to oversee the progress.”
Matthijs van de Laar
CEO, Twirlbound
“Calling in Martijn to help with our company structure, management practices and business vision was the best thing we’ve done since starting Twirlbound. He invites you to (re)align on your values, think about the role you have as a manager and the time you can and should take to work on your company instead of your games – an at the end of it, you’ll have gained a friend. I cannot recommend Martijn more wholeheartedly – his process should be mandatory at any game company, and the earlier you know about everything he has to say, the better.”
Hugo Obi
Founder, Maliyo Games
“Working with Martijn and his FIRM framework has been a game-changer for me. Not only did it help me gain clarity on my priorities, but it also provided a roadmap for aligning my team to bring our company vision to life. I was genuinely impressed by Martijn’s passion and dedication to understanding our business and helping us unlock our full potential.”
Manuel Kerssemakers
Founder, Abbey Games
“It was a quick, painless, even fun process. He has great insight on how a practical framework can connect to the problems and processes in a small studio like ours. He knows how to keep it pragmatic while still injecting valuable business insights.”
Linn Sovig
Program Director, Spawnpoint Trondheim
“I booked Martijn to do a workshop with our new accelerator for game development in Norway, Spawn Point Trondheim. He gave a three hour workshop working with our five game studios on how to create a vision for their game studio, what their goals were and the startings of a business development plan.
It was excellently and professionally executed and it gave the game developers better insight into how to think about their studios as a business. The discussions were fruitful, energizing and at a professional level that elevated their expertise and aspirations.
I hope to hire Martijn much more for future workshops both with established game studios and new ones.”
Robin Ras
Co-founder, Rusty Lake / Second Maze
“Martijn turned out to be a great sparring partner for our gaming businesses. His ability to share his in-depth knowledge during our meetings helped us a lot during our growth struggles: he was able to pinpoint what we could apply (also practically) to run our businesses better in the short and long term. Highly recommended for any type of gaming company!”
Laurens Rutten
CEO, CoolGames
“Martijn provided invaluable support to our Management Team and me in refining our communication goals at CoolGames. His guidance helped improve the effectiveness of our meetings and articulate what truly sets us apart in the games industry. I especially appreciated his pragmatic, no-nonsense approach —free from too much typical consultant jargon— along with his deep understanding of relevant topics that apply to almost any game studio.”
Bart Kemps
Former CEO, i3D.net
“Over the past year, Martijn has consistently served as our guiding force in shaping our quarterly objectives. His meticulous methodology and composed demeanor have proven to be a refreshing influence during these sessions. In the midst of our fast-paced operational landscape, Martijn stands out as the calm within the storm.”
Wouter Go
Founder, Stridequest
“I’ve been meeting with Martijn on a regular basis. He challenges me on business modelling and our sparring sessions are valuable to me in making my ambitions for StrideQuest concrete.”
Deloryan Hommers
Founder, Studio Deloryan
“As a game studio owner, I am pretty much a creator by heart. Running a company was not my forte and I was glad that Martijn was here to help me out with that. Having a sparring partner for several months helped me grow as a business professional. Plus it helped me get the inner workings of the company running smoother and more organised. Would highly recommend working with him!”
Stijn de Jong
Owner, Stuurmen Branding Agency
“With his proven method, you can effectively divide responsibilities, establish a clear growth path, and create a clear meeting pulse. Martijn is the perfect facilitator during his sessions. He is calm, honest, and helpful, leaving you and your team in good hands. Big thanks to Martijn for helping us level up!”
Michaël Lelièvre
CEO, LockitQA
“Martijn has been a guiding force for me, and continues to be as I write this recommendation. I regard him as a business therapist of some sort – someone who helps me reflect critically, offers valuable advice, and facilitates the thought processes I need to make sound decisions. He pushes me to rethink my approach when I believe I am on the right path, and reassures me when I have doubts about decisions that are indeed well-founded.
Organized, thorough, and highly knowledgeable, Martijn is also an incredibly considerate and thoughtful individual. He is an excellent listener, personable, and empathetic. I highly recommend Martijn to anyone seeking business advice and guidance.”
Niki Smit
CEO, Monobanda
“Martijn has been an invaluable sparring partner. He helped me create an overview that enables me to more clearly differentiate between the daily priorities and the longer term ambitions. His FIRM framework has helped us to set a clear guideline for our studio, and given us the tools to work towards that vision more effectively and with renewed confidence.”
Clients, Partners and More
Selected Studios I’ve Coached At
Plan A Free
1:1 Coaching Call
Plan a free 30 minute coaching call. During this call we’ll discuss your situation and goals, and identify how we might work together to reach them.