Question 1

What does Lorien offer?

Accepted Answer

Lorien gives you:
 • 12 weeks of a program specifically designed for gaming startups
 • Access to world-class mentors from Blizzard, Activision, Sega, Peak, Valve, Unity, and more, including studio heads, experienced gaming professionals, successful game entrepreneurs, platform operators, investors, and more
 • Hands-on support across game dev, product, publishing, company management, hiring, legal, and fundraising
 • A community of founders building and learning alongside you
 • Demo Day in front of a global group of VCs, publishers, and industry leaders
We’re not here to give you generic startup advice. We are ex-founders in gaming, and we know standard startup support won't get you there.
We’re here to be your early believers and supporters, honest, hands-on, and in it with you.

Question 2

Where is Lorien based?

Accepted Answer

We’re based in Istanbul, but our reach is global. The program is hybrid: mostly remote, with optional in-person sessions, events, and community in Istanbul.

We work async when needed, we respect dev time, and we support founders wherever they are.

Question 3

When does the program run?

Accepted Answer

We run 2 cohorts per year. Each one lasts 12 weeks. Applications are always open, and rolling applications are considered for the next available batch.
The Spring 2026 (S26) cohort runs from  February 2026 to May 2026.

Question 4

Do you take equity?

Accepted Answer

No equity up front.
We ask for 5% equity, only if you hit the success metrics after the program.

If things don’t click, we part ways with zero strings attached. If they do, we’re here to support you during and after the program, along with your long, wild raid.

No board seat. No hidden fees. 
We’re here to earn our stake, not just take it.

Question 5

What kinds of companies does Lorien accept to the program?

Accepted Answer

We back founders building across:
 • Games – new IPs, playable prototypes, weird experiments, breakout indies who build for PC, console, XR, and mobile.
 • Gametech – tools, engines, infra, dev platforms, creator tech, AI 
 • Social & Ecosystem Plays – multiplayer, UGC, economies, platforms
We don’t care if you’re making a game, making it easier to make games, or rethinking how games are played and enjoyed. If it touches the gaming stack, we’re in.

Question 6

What kind of support & perks do I get?

Accepted Answer

In addition to mentorship in areas ranging from legal, game development, publishing, monetization, company management, and fundraising, Lorien founders get access to startup perks and partner benefits, including:

• Cloud credits (like AWS, Microsoft Founders Hub & more)
 • Dev and design tools
 • Game engines and platform perks
 • Legal templates and startup docs
 • Discounted or free software from partners we trust

We keep things lean but powerful, so you get the right stack without the bloat.

Question 7

Does Lorien help with fundraising?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Fundraising is baked into the program. In the last 12 weeks of the program, we will exclusively focus on:
 • Creating a solid business structure that includes a proper pitch deck, data room, financials, legal structure, and a strong narrative that will empower your company for funding
 • Help you understand investors' perspectives and learn how to tell your story with confidence and clarity.
 • Make introductions to investors who understand games.
 • Help you present well at our Demo Day to a selected global group of VCs and publishers.
 • We’ll advise you on the best legal structure for your company, navigate deals, terms, and follow-on strategy.
Our goal is not just to help you raise, it’s to help you raise well.

Question 8

Do you only support game studios?

Accepted Answer

We back founders building the future of games, not just content, but the systems behind it.

Lorien empowers game studios, gaming platforms, and gametech startups.
We believe the next wave of iconic companies won’t stop at making great games. They’ll power new engines, infrastructure, tools, creator platforms, and multiplayer ecosystems.

Games are a huge part of a global entertainment and social stack, and we support founders building across that stack.

We prioritize service-driven, scalable game businesses over one-off products. Whether you’re building the next breakout title or the tools others will build on, we’re happy to help you scale.

Question 9

How selective is the program?

Accepted Answer

We’re highly selective and founder-first. According to our 1st batch data, only 2.3% of applications were accepted into the S25 cohort.

Lorien works with small, focused cohorts (~5 companies / batch), so we can go deep with each team. We set clear KPIs and work hands-on to help you grow fast and raise smart.
There aren’t many programs like us in the world, and we’re intentional about who we back.
If you have a working prototype, playable demo, player traction, or early growth signals, that puts you in a strong position.

We’re here to find the builders shaping the next wave of gaming. What we look for and help you have: clarity, iteration, and momentum.

Question 10

Do I need a prototype?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Lorien is built to help founders solve early growth challenges and structure their companies for scale. So we strongly recommend having a prototype, early build, or alpha-ready version when you apply.

We work best with teams who are already building and ready to move fast.
We’re here to help you sharpen, ship, and scale, not start from scratch.

Question 11

Do I need to be full-time?

Accepted Answer

We strongly suggest it. Building a game company takes time, focus, and a lot of love. If you’re not full-time yet, we want to see a plan to get there. The program moves fast, and so should you.

Question 12

Do I need to be a first-time founder?

Accepted Answer

Not at all. We welcome both first-time and experienced founders. What matters most is your commitment, vision, and the potential of your company.

Question 13

Do I need to be based in Türkiye?

Accepted Answer

Nope. We’re based in Istanbul but have mentors & partners around the world, and we work with founders globally. The program is hybrid, and remote-friendly by design.

Question 14

I’ve already raised some funding. Can I still apply?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. If you’re an early-stage company building toward something bigger, we can help you sharpen your strategy, extend your runway, and prepare for your next round.

Question 15

What happens after the 12 weeks?

Accepted Answer

Graduating from the program is just the beginning.

You become part of the Lorien alumni network, a global group of builders, dreamers, and doers shaping the future of games. You’ll keep access to our communication channels, mentors, warm intros, resources, and our full support whenever you need.

Fundraising? Hiring? Launching? Pivoting? We’ll be there.

Once you’re in, you’re in. We back our founders for the long haul.