Professional Overview
Selcuk Atli is the Co-founder and CEO of Bunch, a New York-based technology company that develops a party app enabling group video chat simultaneous to multiplayer mobile gaming. Bunch’s platform facilitates real-time social interaction while users play their favorite games on iOS and Android devices, positioning itself as a social overlay to enhance mobile gaming experiences.
Leadership and Experience
- Current Role: CEO at Bunch, leading strategy, product innovation, and market positioning for the company since its founding in 2017.
- Entrepreneurial Background: Prior to Bunch, Selcuk founded and successfully exited two technology startups, Boostable (an adtech platform based in San Francisco) and SocialWire. He has further operated as Entrepreneur in Residence at 500 Startups, underpinning his deep involvement in early-stage company scaling and venture ecosystems.
- Advisory Roles: He has served as an advisor at Blockthrough and is recognized as a global high-impact entrepreneur by Endeavor.
- Educational Credentials: He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was an international Fulbright scholar focusing on Management of Information Systems, Technology Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship.
- Accelerator and Fellowship Programs: Alumni of YCombinator, a leading startup accelerator, and recipient of a World Bank innovation award.
Company Funding and Market Position
Under Selcuk Atli’s leadership, Bunch has raised approximately $28 million from notable venture capital and strategic investors including General Catalyst, London Venture Partners, Supercell, Electronic Arts, Tencent, Riot Games, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive, and Miniclip.
- The company’s funding milestones include an initial seed round of $3.8 million in late 2018, with subsequent rounds culminating in a total capital raise of about $28 million.
- Bunch aims to position itself as the "Xbox Live for mobile games," emphasizing social connectivity and shared gaming experiences.
- The app has experienced significant growth during industry shifts, notably around the COVID-19 pandemic, which accelerated demand for social gaming and interactive entertainment.
Product and Market Insights
- Bunch’s flagship product combines group video chat with synchronized multiplayer gaming, targeting mobile gamers who seek integrated social interaction.
- The platform’s unique value proposition lies in providing players with an engaging way to connect “live” during mobile gameplay, a space traditionally underserved compared to console or PC social gaming.
- The company leverages partnerships and investor ties within the gaming ecosystem to drive adoption and collaborative growth.
Recognition and Industry Influence
- Atli introduced the Pivot Pyramid (2016) concept, outlining a structured framework to identify pivotal areas for startups, including customer focus, problem definition, solution iteration, and technology shifts.
- Recognized by Endeavor as a high-impact entrepreneur and awarded innovation honors from the World Bank, reflecting credibility within both startup and global development sectors.
- He maintains a profile as an active thought leader in entrepreneurship, with participation in industry events such as PG Connects Seattle and mentions in various technology and startup media outlets.
Personal and Location
- Based in New York City, Selcuk blends his entrepreneurial and academic background to scale Bunch within the competitive mobile gaming and social app markets.
- Turkish-born, Selcuk relocated to the United States to pursue his education and professional ventures, highlighting his international experience and diverse perspective.
This profile assembles Selcuk Atli’s key professional credentials, leadership role, company funding data, and strategic direction relevant to understanding his business orientation and Bunch’s market position within the social mobile gaming sector.
