To build a great experience, you have to break a couple sacred cows | Joshua Lu - a16z Games (Partner), SPEEDRUN (General Manager) | Ep. 33

Josh Lu is a product executive and  partner at a16z Games,
investing in Series C - B companies. He is also the General
Manager at SPEEDRUN, their gaming accelerator. During  his
time at Zynga, he led product and growth teams, steering titles
like Words With Friends to unprecedented success. He has also
worked as VP, Commercial Leader at Blizzard Entertainment, and
Director of Product Management for Horizon Worlds at Meta.


 


In this episode, Matt and Josh discuss viral gaming strategy, the
importance of building cross-functional collaboration among
teams, and where the future and evolution of and AI/hybridization
in mobile gaming is headed in the coming years. 
Key Takeaways:

Unified Goals and Cross-functional Collaboration: Discussing
the importance of setting shared goals across product, marketing,
and growth teams to ensure cohesive effort and maximize impact

Teaching and Understanding Different Functions: Effective
growth requires every team members understand each other's roles
to build mutual understanding and drive collective success

AI in Gaming: The evolving role of AI in gaming, from
reducing production costs to enhancing personalization and user
experience

Importance of Startup Team Building: For early-stage gaming
startups, the capabilities, vision, and conviction of the
founding team are critical factors for investment

The Future of Mobile Gaming: Emphasizing the continued
potential for innovation and massive success within the mature
yet dynamic mobile gaming market



Chapters


(0:01) Joshua Lu's experience in the gaming industry


(3:50) Gaming culture and family traditions


(5:44) The evolution of growth in business over the last decade


(9:44) Cross-functional collaboration and overcoming siloed teams


(12:40) Transitioning Blizzard to mobile gaming culture


(13:59) Building cross-functional collaboration for product
success


(18:03) The importance of strategic planning and goal setting


(21:24) How centralized PM function enhances collaboration in
gaming studios


(25:22) The high-stakes world of free-to-play mobile games


(28:52) The evolution and future of mobile gaming


(36:38) The importance of early adoption in technological
advancements


(37:47) Key criteria for investing in early stage gaming startups


(42:04) Advantages of non-gaming backgrounds in mobile game
development


(42:39) Breaking rules to create something new


(44:03) Final thoughts/Last piece of advice


(45:00) Conclusion and closing remarks


 


Link to transcript