Founded in in 2014 by Dean Tempest, Ben Drummond and Tris Williams, the brains behind the viral quiz game Linkee, Big Potato has stayed focused on its mission to bring people together by creating ‘board games for people who think they don’t like board games’. To date, the business has launched and grown hits including The Chameleon, Herd Mentality, and Chicken vs Hotdog.
Big Potato has grown through an IP-led strategy – now selling over 64 titles. Games are sold both online and through retailers worldwide, in 44 countries in total. Big Potato’s IP is constantly expanding keeping the business at the forefront of their industry whilst building a back-list of established and evergreen favourites.
The market opportunity is large and well-suited to Big Potato’s fast-paced and social product offering; there are over 300m board game players across Big Potato’s core markets, with 60% of purchases made with the explicit intention of playing with friends and family or for a specific occasion.
With Mobeus’s support, Big Potato will:
- Increase R&D to accelerate the launch of new titles.
- Continue to expand its international footprint.
- Invest in digital products that drive real-life connections
Big Potato became a certified B-Corp in 2024 and employs 63 people in its London office, with a growing international presence in both the United States and Germany. The business is run by Co-CEOs Dean Tempest and Adam Wright who will be joined by Judy Gibbons as Chair. Gibbons was formerly Chair of Wonderbly, the personalised books business, as well as Which?, and will provide support with the business’s digital and organisational strategies.
Mobeus Investment Director Dominic Draysey led the transaction with Jordan Kay, Harry Pampiglione and Chris Price. Draysey who will join the board alongside Mobeus Partner Justin Maltz said:
“Big Potato is a purpose-led business, with a clear mission to help people build connection. We have been impressed with the team’s dedication to that mission. We are similarly impressed with their commitment to innovation. We see the combination of purpose and innovation as a winning formula for gaining market share in a market growing by c.6% annually.”