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§ Private Profile · Helsinki, Finland
Social First is a technology company.
Social First develops highly social multiplayer and massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, emphasizing true cross-platform accessibility. The company fosters genuine social connections among players, leveraging a technical approach designed for broad engagement. Its products deliver immersive virtual world experiences prioritizing organic player interaction.
The studio was co-founded in late 2021 by games industry veterans Kim Soares and Mikko Kähärä. Soares, with over two decades of experience including founding mobile studio Kukouri, brought extensive design and leadership expertise. Kähärä, an accomplished industry professional, joined to redefine social gaming through innovative player-centric platforms.
Social First caters to a global audience seeking immersive, community-driven gaming experiences. The company commits to building environments where social interaction forms the core of gameplay. Its long-term vision centers on cultivating vibrant online communities and establishing new paradigms for social connection in digital entertainment.
Social First has raised $7.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Social First has raised $7.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Social First has raised $7.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Social First's investors include Crowberry Capital, Expert Dojo, Play Ventures, Anton Gauffin, Hilmar Veigar Petursson, Joakim Achren, Plug & Play Ventures.
Social First has raised $7.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in August 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2024 | $4M Seed | — | Crowberry Capital, Expert Dojo, Play Ventures, Anton Gauffin, Hilmar Veigar Petursson, Joakim Achren | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2022 | $3M Seed | Play Ventures | Expert Dojo, Plug & Play Ventures, Anton Gauffin, Joakim Achren | Announced |
Social First is a Finnish game development studio based in Helsinki, focused on creating cross-platform social multiplayer games designed as enduring social experiences that foster meaningful player relationships across decades and beyond gaming.[1] The company builds titles like the recently announced Nexus Station, a social sandbox MMO that functions as both a game and a social platform, targeting Gen Z players with emphasis on multiplayer interaction and community building.[1] It serves global gamers seeking long-term engagement, solving the problem of fleeting gaming experiences by prioritizing social connectivity, cross-platform accessibility, and platforms for real-world relationship formation.[1] Growth momentum includes a $2.5M pre-seed round led by Play Ventures and Joakim Achrén, followed by a $4.2M seed round led by Crowberry Capital with Play Ventures participation, alongside IP acquisitions like Pixel Worlds and Tiny Troopers from Kukouri Mobile Entertainment.[1]
Social First was founded in Helsinki, Finland—known as the games capital of the world—by industry veterans Kim Soares and Mikko Kähärä, who brought expertise in multiplayer and social gaming to launch the studio with a $2.5M pre-seed investment.[1] The idea emerged from a vision to build a new wave of cross-platform social multiplayer games that last decades, disrupting short-lived gaming trends by emphasizing persistent social platforms for Gen Z.[1] Early traction came swiftly with the pre-seed backing, enabling rapid team expansion; pivotal moments include announcing Nexus Station as their debut title, securing seed funding, acquiring key IPs, and strategic hires adding 60 years of combined tech and design experience (Marco Sandrini, Jari Ravantti, Aki Raula).[1] Kim Soares has highlighted the studio's focus on live events and disruptive social trends in interviews, marking a return to community-driven gaming post-pandemic.[1]
Social First stands out in social gaming through:
Social First rides the resurgence of social gaming, capitalizing on Gen Z's demand for persistent, community-centric experiences amid fragmented digital interactions, where platforms like Roblox and Fortnite have proven social layers drive retention.[1] Timing is ideal in 2025, as cross-platform multiplayer evolves with improved tech infrastructure, aligning with post-pandemic shifts toward virtual socializing and live events, as noted by founder Kim Soares.[1] Market forces favoring them include investor appetite for social IP (evident in their funding and acquisitions) and the decline of solo gaming in favor of social sandboxes, positioning Social First to influence the ecosystem by redefining MMOs as hybrid social networks.[1] Their Helsinki base leverages Finland's gaming hub status, amplifying global reach.
Social First is primed to launch Nexus Station and integrate acquired IPs like Pixel Worlds into its social ecosystem, with ongoing hires signaling scaled development.[1] Trends like AI-enhanced personalization in gaming and deeper social integrations will shape their path, potentially expanding into metaverse-like platforms amid rising demand for cross-genre social experiences.[1] Their influence may evolve from niche innovator to ecosystem leader, as enduring social games capture loyalty in a crowded market—echoing their mission to redefine gaming as a lifelong relationship builder.[1]