How Certain Affinity Became The Biggest Independent Video Game Developer in Austin Texas

Austin native Mojdeh Gharbi has the kind of “woman-championing-tech” story we need to hear more often. Mojdeh is co-owner of Certain Affinity, the largest independent video game developer in Austin Texas. With contributions to industry-defining games like HALO, Call of Duty and DOOM, Certain Affinity has developed or co-developed more than more than 25 products across 10 different franchises, with more than 100 million units sold. Not bad for what started, twelve years ago, as a “bootstrap startup.”

“Most people get into the game industry and say ‘I’m going to make the next big game and it’s going to be amazing.’’ But there’s so much risk involved in making games,” Mojdeh shared. “We intentionally said, we’re not going to go out and raise a bunch of money and hope it works out. We’re going to build the studio from the ground up. We’re going to learn from the best so that when it’s our moment, we’ve set ourselves up for success.”

Now a strong workforce of 165 people, Certain Affinity has significantly scaled its operational capability while at the same time remaining profitable and socially conscious. Mojdeh’s leadership has turned heads in the community, as she was recently named a finalist for the Austin Business Journal’s “Profiles in Power,” and recognized in the STEM category of the Women’s Way award in Austin Women’s Magazine. What’s more, Mojdeh firmly believes that “leadership” is about creating a positive ripple effect in the lives of Certain Affinity’s employees and their consumers.

In this episode of Voices of Impact, Mojdeh talks about Certain Affinity’s path to becoming the largest independent video game developer in Austin. We discuss the importance of building a reputation, longevity in a rough-and-tumble industry, and the true meaning of legacy. Mojdeh also shares her fresh, insightful approach on the often over-wrought world of marketing.