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FINALIST
Walter Driver, the CEO of Scopely, Inc., graduated from college with a degree in creative writing, a skill he says was necessary to envision a company as distinctive as Scopely, a developer and distributor of mobile apps to enable third-party game developers to build, retain and monetize an engaged audience.
Driver saw an opportunity in the technology space since most gaming companies in Silicon Valley focused on the code and programming behind the applications they created. But Driver wanted to make gaming an emotional experience. With the vision of fusing technology and traditional entertainment, Scopely was born.
The technology industry moves extremely quickly, and Driver has proved his ability to adapt in an ever-changing environment. For example, when Scopely was first founded, most games were developed on the Facebook platform. However, Driver quickly identified the maturation of the technological ecosystem and shifted focus to the iOS platform for mobile devices.
At the highest level, Scopely is building a network of socially connected games that are supported by its proprietary platform. The company allows independent game developers to compete head-to-head against the largest developers in the world in the battle for reach, revenue and users.
Scopely’s technical infrastructure allows developers to develop games efficiently. Its social mechanics are designed to create experiences that retain users and drive them to continually engage.
What distinguishes Scopely further is that unlike traditional publishers or social platforms, Scopely takes a hands-on approach to working with partners. By partnering with elite developers and dedicating resources to each game title it publishes, Scopely ensures that it only produces quality products.
Driver’s strategy has paid off. Experts expect 1 billion smartphone users by the end of 2013 and more than 2 billion by the end of 2015. Tablet sales are growing even faster. The growth in the mobile device industry is organic, and Scopely has identified a way to profit from the wave sweeping across the globe.
How to reach: Scopely, Inc., www.scopely.com
