Taking Names and Making Games.

Akupara Games is a (mostly) LA-based independent publisher that champions distinctive games and the people who make them. We show up ethically, sustainably, and for the long haul. 

We aim to be the industry’s most trusted independent label and thought leader, where the “Akupara” name serves as a global signal for games with soul, craft, and enduring impact.

 

As a fully remote company, we proudly boast employees and clients from across the globe!

Our Beliefs

1:1s / Office Hours

Regular, structured time for support, feedback, and problem-solving at every level.

No-Crunch Culture

Enforced boundaries to prevent burnout and to protect work/life balance.

Employment Surveys & Incident Reports

Formal mechanisms to surface issues safely and act on feedback.

Promote From Within

Clear growth paths and recognition for long-term contribution.

Training Resources

Ongoing access to education and knowledge through Udemy, GDC Vault, Lunch n Learns.

Operational Excellence

Shared decision-making paired with ownership of outcomes.

Accessibility

Embedded accessibility requirements in contracts and development processes, along with subject matter experts consulting.

Sensitivity

Ensuring respectful, informed representation in content and communication, along with subject matter experts consulting.

Charitable & Educational Outreach

Ongoing support for organizations like Extra Life, Girls Make Games, WIGI, social impact, schools, and indie education initiatives.

Customized Accommodations

Flexible, individualized support for employees and partners.

Visibility

Normalizing inclusion and identity respect across all touchpoints.

Open Door Policy & Ease of Access

We remain reachable, responsive, and human.

Standardized Processes & Documentation

Clear, repeatable, templatized workflows and internal wikis.

Continuous Improvement

Honest reflection to ensure we’re always better than we were before.

Analytics-Informed Decision Making

Data used to reinforce (not replace) our curatorial voice.

Benefits and Perks

Flexible Schedules & Remote Workplace

Trust-based work structures that prioritize outcomes over hours.

Employer-Matched 401(k)

Long-term financial investment in employee stability and future security.

Bonuses

Shared success through performance- and company-aligned bonus structures.

Healthcare

Comprehensive coverage that supports physical and mental wellbeing.

Parental Leave

Policies that support families and life changes without career penalty.

Professional Development Friday

Dedicated time for learning, experimentation, and skill growth.

Paid Flights & Event Accommodations

Paid flights, hotels and meals for anyone who attends events to represent Akupara in an official capacity.

Company-Wide Playtests

All active employees are invited to play builds and give directed feedback on upcoming in-development titles.

People & Culture Team

Internal special interest group responsible for driving company-wide culture building, DEI and charitable activities.

Team-Driven Game Scouting

All Akuparans are encouraged to help shape the future of our portfolio of published titles.

Annual In-Person Company Retreat

Every year, Akupara hosts an in-person company retreat in Los Angeles called “Shellout!”

Employee Referrals

Finder's fee for internal hires made through personal network.

PTO & Sick Leave

3 weeks of PTO to eligible to employees working 20 to 40 hours/week.

Paid Holidays

9 paid holidays with the ability to take floating to support international employees.

Comped Meals

Meal credits for birthdays, OT and participation in monthly activities.

Phantom Equity

Participation in payouts for major financial moments for the company.

Company Merch

Regular gifts of company and game-branded physical merchandise.

Commitment to Growing of Perks

Continuous improvement of team benefits is a core motivation of the business.

Our Team of Experts

David Logan

CEO

(he/they)

Alyssa Kollgaard

COO

(any/all)

Buddy Sola

Head of Marketing

(he/him)

Vicky Wei

Head of Finance

(she/her)

Enrique Otheo

Senior Development Producer

(he/him)

Jessica Flor

Senior Marketing Producer

(she/they)

Tanya Courtney

Senior Marketing Producer

(she/he/they)

Richard Suchit

Senior Marketing Producer

(he/him)

Harri Staub

Hybrid Producer

(she/her)

James Sabol

Development Producer

(he/him)

Xavier Stambaugh

Marketing Lead

(he/him)

Joseph Shockley

Community Manager

(he/him)

Luis Illingworth

Video Editor

(he/him)

Steve Askins

Short Form Video Editor

(he/him)

Mike Shanks

Lead Artist

(he/him)

Andrew Montemayor

2D Artist & Animator

(he/him)

Catton Arthur

Senior Composer & SFX Artist

(he/they)

Andrew Marrero

Senior Programmer

(he/him)

Jaden Davis

Programmer

(he/him)

Saran Krishnaraja

Programmer

(he/him)

Miles Gomez

Programmer

(he/him)

Advisors

Kate Silva

President at 2pmFIX

Estevão Arantes

Founder at Automata & Ex Head of Technology at Akupara Games

Howard Roeske

Lead Software Engineer at Kittehface Games & Technical Director at Akupara Games

Jared Yeager

Head of Developer Relations at Oncade & Partner at Indie Fund

Yoonsang David Yu

Marketing Lead at ModRetro & Co-Founder at Akupara Games

Kellee Santiago

Executive Vice President Game Development at E-Line Media & Partner at Indie Fund