BERNARD YEE
BERNARD YEE
CEO & Executive Producer

I started playing and writing games on a TRS-80, and despite a detour into other professions, made it back into game development. I’ve helped launch genres like MMOs and rhythm games, saw two radically different approaches to high quality at Bungie and PopCap, which I brought to shipping a new medium at Oculus. There’s something deeply meaningful about mediated cooperation and collaboration I’ve wanted to bring to games - I would have been a better dad (and human!) if I had a dog earlier. My spare time (!) is spent with my family (which includes our pup) and at the velodrome, racing bikes. Windup Minds is the place where I want to make games, with people I want to make games with.

BEN VANCE
Game Director & CTO

I started patrolling the moon at around 4 years old, shortly after picking up a pencil, and haven’t looked back. My lifelong interest in art and computing led me through DOOM mods, into early VR labs, and into the professional world with Electronic Arts. I’ve always loved games, yet felt they were just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve explored the medium in many ways, as programmer, designer, artist, and director, and in many kinds of productions, including independent game studios, AR & VR startups, museums, and pop-up shows. I love the dance of excitement, expectations, and constraints while innovating in interactive experiences and creating unexpected joy.

AMY CONCHIE
Software Engineer

I've tinkered with game programming since my teenage years when I picked up ActionScript and RPG Maker 2. This passion ultimately led me to spend seven years at Meta (Oculus) and Microsoft, where I worked on games and experimental AR/VR features. Outside the tech sphere I find joy building a community of writers, artists and other creatives in NYC.

EMILY BORJON
Animator

From the very beginning I've had the pleasure of being raised in a family full of creatives. My life has been centered around the art of animation and from a very early age, I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do. Not long after finishing Animschool, I joined a wonderful group of game artists during the initial exploration phase of Niantic's newest game, Peridot. I fell in love with interactive games while on this project and now I have the opportunity to dive headfirst into VR games with a group of insanely great artists. When I'm not animating, you'll find me at a coffee shop with a mocha and book in hand... or perhaps while I'm bringing characters to life.

STEFANI SWIATKOWSKI
UX Designer

I spent my childhood drawing, writing stories, and playing games. Little did younger me realize she could turn those things into an amazing career. In the past ten years, I've worked on many projects across different platforms and genres, but none were quite so rewarding (and challenging) as Bogo and First Steps. I love making games that take risks and defy expectations—with smart and creative people..

AH YOUNG JOO
Game Designer

As far as I can remember, I've been obsessed with crafting, designing, and making things. I earned my Bachelor's at the University of Southern California's Games program, where I led and designed several small-to-large-scale projects. Upon graduation, I spent a year working with game designers and shipping Niantic's first AR pet simulation game Peridot. I am passionate about designing games that are not only systemically rich and fun but also positively enrich players' lives. In my free time, you might find me practicing archery, sewing plushies, or doting on my pet bunny.

AUSTIN GROSSMAN
Game Designer

Author, game designer, narrative designer, teacher. I started designing games in 1992 at the very beginning of real-time 3D, and went on to work on classic immersives like System ShockDeus Ex, and Dishonored. I moved into XR design as Director of Design at Magic Leap, finding the new paradigms mixed reality offers in game design and storytelling. I’m always looking for the next big new technology - and how to make it sing.
In my other life I’m a novelist. My published books include Soon I Will Be InvincibleYOU, and Crooked, with more forthcoming. I like to put my own spin on different styles of genre fiction, to tell new sides of old stories.

TaSh Elzie
Head Of Community

I'm a creative storyteller and passionate gamer with over a decade of experience in digital media marketing and community management. I've built a strong online presence as a content creator and I'm the host of Women In Games International's "Cheat Codes" podcast, where I explore the fundamental right to play for everyone. I am a Meta Certified Community Manage and I'm dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and diverse gaming world.

With Help From

JAY FAULKNER
Gameplay Engineer

Since discovering the debug menu in Sonic the Hedgehog, I've wanted to build experiences that surprise and delight players. I've built mods, indie games, and tools in various game engines and been a professional engineer for over a decade. I fell in love with VR the day I got my hands on a Vive and somehow found myself at my dream job with incredible people building something special - I intend to make the most of it!

DREN MCDONALD
Audio Design & Composer

I’ve composed music and designed sounds for film, tv, theme parks, escape rooms, VR/AR experiences, phone devices and, of course, games…many many games! Tom Petty famously said “Music is probably the one real magic I have encountered in my life” and I might add that interactive music (and sounds) bring that magic to another level. In addition to the music and audio that I’ve created for these projects I’ve also taught at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and U.C. Santa Cruz (Games and Playable Media graduate dept.) I have also released many records under my name as well as my fundraising collaboration project called polyeheDren, where I’ve collaborated with musicians such as Iva Bittová, The Residents, Nels Cline (Wilco) & Josh Freese (Foo Fighters.)

TYLER SCHATZ
Art Director

Hungry to work with great people on great projects! Trained across multiple disciplines and mediums. Over a decade of studio experience and education, fostering and collaborating with teams to not only have fun but be diligent in creating art and crafting groundbreaking stories and experiences. Credits and clients include Imaginary Friends, Chipotle, Dolby, Gatorade, Magic Leap, WB Animation, DreamWorks, NFL.

ALEJANDRO CANNIZZO
Gameplay Engineer

I've always been fascinated by the inner workings of videogames in all of their stages, which led me to learn how to program, since it was the closest thing to videogames I could think of. Even before graduating and getting my Bachelor's I was already participating in gamejams and always curious about how games were made, which eventually helped me build enough knowledge on the subject to land my first job in the industry when I joined Funomena. Since then, whether it's through professional or personal work, I haven't stopped learning about new and interesting aspects of videogames, and hope I never do.

Advisors

SYLVAIN DUBROFSKY
Game Design

I’ve been doing my lifelong dream of game development since 1999 most notably working on Rock Band, Peggle, Tony Hawk, Call of Duty and many other games. I’m still inspired by games on a daily basis. It brings me pleasure to work with great passionate people that make working fun.

TODD HOOPER
Business Development

Todd is an experienced entrepreneur, having founded, operated and advised multiple companies in the enterprise and entertainment markets. He published his first video game as a teenager, joined Unity's management team in 2013, and now invests in gaming tools and content with Acequia Capital.

Alexandra Horowitz
Senior Research Fellow

I'm a Senior Research Fellow and head of the Dog Cognition Lab at Barnard College, and I've written several books about what it might be like to be a dog. But my key credential is visible in the amount of animal fur on my clothes at all times: I live with two charming dogs and a highly tolerant cat, and apart from just loving their presence, I'm a keen observer of their behavior. I hope to share what I've seen in the pursuit of more and better human-beastie interactions.

Team Pets

Ant
Cocomo
Jones
Lucky
Marty Boy
Opal
Roxy
Sabine
Truby
Artoo