Helsinki-based developer 4Good Games has closed its seed financing round to develop free-to-play casual mobile games with social impact at their core.
The seed round was led by 4Good co-founder and Vice Chairman Jukka Pihlman, a veteran of the sustainable banking and finance sector. The assembled dream team of angel investors and advisors from the Finnish games industry also includes Rovio founder Niklas Hed, ex-Supercell lead Jouni Utriainen, and Frogmind’s Teemu Mäki-Patola, among others.
Led by founders Ilmari Hakkola and Markus Eräpolku, 4Good intends to engage players with purpose. By connecting in-game actions to real-world impact, the company makes every play session feel meaningful. 4Good also aims to channel up to half of profits toward charities, NGOs and other organizations that support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly around climate action and environmental stewardship.
“Our mission is to be the change we want to see in the world, and as game developers, that means promoting positive social impact through play,” says Ilmari Hakkola, Founder and CEO of 4Good Games. “Where many games with social impact fail is that they are not accessible or fun enough for mass audiences. In order to make a real impact, we need to create the best games out there. We aim to make giving fun.”
“Individuals and the private sector will have to play an increasingly larger role in helping countries achieve the SDGs”, says Jukka Pihlman, 4Good’s co-founder and vice chairman. “I strongly believe that my investment in 4Good Games can make a much larger impact than anything I could have done on my own.”
“It’s great to see that 4Good Games are able to show a solid business case, but even more important is that their products have social impact built in the core,” says Rovio founder Niklas Hed, one of the angel investors backing and advising the team. “I’m glad to see that this purpose-focused mission has already shown great promise in how well it resonated with players during early tests.”
