315. From Space Ape to Duolingo via Supercell with Simon Hade

What actually happens after the hit games, the acquisitions, and the “success”?In this episode, Simon Hade, co-founder of Space Ape Games, walks through the uncomfortable middle of game company building: from Playfish → Space Ape → Supercell → NextBeat → Duolingo.This isn’t a victory lap. It’s a post-mortem on genre mastery vs. exploration, lean LiveOps, why copying the Supercell playbook breaks most studios, and why Simon ultimately left games to help build Duolingo’s music and learning products.00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene00:43 The Birth of Space Ape03:26 Fundraising Challenges and Successes07:48 Innovations and Strategic Moves13:27 Lean LiveOps Philosophy16:51 Supercell Acquisition and Cultural Shifts18:50 Reflections and Lessons Learned38:59 Spinning Outta Supercell40:26 Exploring Duolingo Partnership44:37 Relentless Optimization at Duolingo49:13 Transitioning to Duolingo55:42 The Price of Being a Founder01:03:05 Reflections on Success and Future