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Andrew Sheppard is a Managing Director at Transcend Fund, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on the gaming industry, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to joining the firm in 2020, he served as Chief Executive Officer of GREE International Entertainment and held dual roles as Chief Operating Officer and President of Studios at Kabam. At Kabam, Sheppard played a key executive role in scaling the mobile gaming studio before its acquisition by Netmarble for roughly $800 million. His earlier career includes executive and product management positions at Electronic Arts and Outspark, following his graduation with a BA from Pomona College and an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. He currently focuses on deploying capital from Transcend's $60 million second fund to back early-stage video game developers and interactive media startups globally.
Andrew Sheppard stands as a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as a Managing Director at Transcend Fund. At Transcend Fund, a firm renowned for its deep specialization in interactive entertainment, gaming, and the broader digital experience economy, Andrew is instrumental in shaping the future of play. His role involves leading investment strategies, identifying groundbreaking startups, and providing strategic guidance to portfolio companies poised for significant impact.
Transcend Fund's investment thesis centers on backing visionary founders who are innovating across various facets of the gaming ecosystem. This includes everything from cutting-edge game development studios and publishing platforms to underlying technologies, tools, and infrastructure that power the next generation of interactive experiences. Andrew's keen eye for disruptive trends and his profound understanding of player communities make him an invaluable asset in sourcing and nurturing these high-potential ventures.
Before joining Transcend Fund, Andrew Sheppard built an impressive career marked by significant operational leadership roles within the gaming industry. He served as President of GREE International, where he oversaw the company's Western operations and played a key role in its global expansion. Prior to that, he held the position of Chief Operating Officer at DeNA West, contributing to the growth of its mobile gaming portfolio. His extensive background also includes a tenure as Vice President at Electronic Arts, one of the world's largest video game companies, where he gained invaluable experience in game development, publishing, and market strategy. This rich operational history provides him with a unique founder-centric perspective, enabling him to deeply understand the challenges and opportunities faced by entrepreneurs in the interactive entertainment space.
Andrew's investment focus at Transcend Fund aligns with the firm's commitment to supporting companies that are pushing boundaries in areas such as mobile gaming, PC and console titles, virtual and augmented reality experiences, esports, and the emerging metaverse. While specific individual investments are part of the firm's collective strategy, Andrew contributes significantly to Transcend Fund's robust portfolio, which includes innovative companies that are redefining how people interact, play, and connect globally. His leadership helps ensure Transcend Fund remains at the forefront of investing in the most promising companies within the dynamic world of interactive entertainment.
Andrew Sheppard is a Managing Director at Transcend Fund, a leading venture capital firm specializing in investments within the interactive entertainment and gaming sectors. He is known for his extensive background in the gaming industry and his strategic approach to identifying innovative startups.
Andrew Sheppard primarily invests in companies within the interactive entertainment and gaming industries. This includes game development studios, publishing platforms, gaming technology, esports, virtual/augmented reality, and other related digital experiences that are shaping the future of play.
Andrew Sheppard serves as a Managing Director at Transcend Fund. Transcend Fund is a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in the most promising companies across the interactive entertainment and gaming ecosystems.
