Thomas Grønnevik, Wasder CEO: “The company is moving into mass growth which means we will be growing as an organization at the same time as developing a unique and innovative product meant for scale”

The Silicon Review

In the digital world we live in, the gaming industry is considered to be one of the most exciting industries in tech because of its importance to culture, entertainment, and technological advancement. PC, console, and mobile gaming companies are using the latest in tech to bring their games to the screens of more than two billion people all over the globe. Globally, there are numerous gaming companies reinventing gaming through innovation; among them, Wasder stands out. The idea of Wasder came from seeing people who love games scattered all over the internet, trying to satisfy their gaming-related needs on several different platforms and solutions. At Wasder, the team realized a dire need for a collaborative ecosystem for everything gaming industry-related.

When the team started looking into this they saw that the primary player funnel was broken up between many products, there was a lot of room for improvement when it came to the user experience as a whole. As a consequence, Thomas Grønnevik, CEO of Wasder, realized that he wanted to build a company that could make people’s lives better through the power of gaming. Wasder needed to create a platform that solved the players’ needs, where everyone was welcome to come and express themselves regardless of who they are or what games they love to play, a place where people could hang out and enjoy games together.

In conversation with Thomas Grønnevik, CEO of Wasder

Q. Tell us what inspires you and you employees to innovate? And how do you maintain balance in your personal and professional life?

The team at Wasder and I are inspired to innovate because we like to drive positive change. Since we’re breaking new ground there are so many things we do that makes us feel inspired – from exploring better ways for players to discover their new favourite games and helping people find others to play with to building a better, friendlier, and more inclusive gaming environment where everyone can truly express themselves and feel like they belong. The future of gaming is exhilarating as well; there’s a lot of innovation to get excited about. Like web3 gaming, for example, I think we all feel inspired by just being part of this journey together.

Regarding my work-life balance, there definitely is more work than play. But the company is rooted in one of my most significant interests, gaming, so I’d say it’s time well spent. When I do have some time over, I like to relax in front of the computer, play games, read a good book, watch a movie - I am a huge movie nerd—or spend time with my family and friends.

Q. Can you introduce us to your product? What is its key features?

Wasder is a gamified social media for players where they can express themselves, connect with others, and explore the world of games while having fun and being rewarded for it. It’s a platform that solves our basic needs as people while optimizing engagement between players, friends, and game makers. Say, for example, that you have this game that you’re playing, its multiplayer, and your friends don’t play it. Then you can come to Wasder and find new friends to play with. Many people currently on the platform have made new friends they talk to on a regular basis, and it all started with them finding each other on Wasder. I believe another stand-out feature that we’re proud of and excited about is the gamification of Wasder. It’s a great way of boosting engagement on the platform and introducing new games to our community through the partnerships that we have for every unique season. It’s also a massive value add for the game makers we partner with, as they see higher engagement than any other outlet they go to.

Q. Do you want to highlight any current market practices in the online gaming segment that needs correction?

I think there are several areas – I would love to see more diversity in stories in games, a deeper social layer for more interaction between people, and a much easier way for players to navigate this growing industry. More integration of Web3 technologies to give players control of their own items and to open the door to new business models that allow players to participate in the creation of games. It’s a constantly evolving industry - and I think it’s time that the players who have a love for games gets to be part of driving it forward on every level. I am looking forward to new models that make it easier for players to actually make money by playing games.

Q. How do you see the company changing in five years, and how do you see yourself creating that change?

The company is moving into mass growth, which means we will be growing as an organization while developing a unique and innovative product meant for scale. It’s a huge challenge, but something we are all looking forward to. For me, my job is to create a great working foundation so everyone in the team can fully utilize their skill sets and talents while having fun and feeling excited about showing up to work every day. Our goal with Wasder is to reach 150 million users in the next 5 years, and bring everyone who shares a love of games into one ecosystem.

Q. What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Art of War – Sun Tzu is an excellent book for business leadership, marketing, sales, and competition. It teaches you about strategy in a way that applies to many different areas, and it’s an excellent go-to read at any time.

Meet the leader behind the success of Wasder

Thomas Grønnevik, CEO of Wasder is an award-winning and visionary leader with a talent for bringing together skilled individuals and executives with proven track records from some of the most successful companies in the last decade.