Generation start-up: Tamatem founders see Arabic games market as ripe for expansion – The National

Generation start-up: Tamatem founders see Arabic games market as ripe for expansion – The National

Mobile games publisher, which raised $3.5m in February funding round, is planning a move into South East Asian market





























Hussam Hammo, founder and chief executive of Amman-based Arabic games publisher Tamatem, expects to grow employee numbers to 100 this year from 55 currently after securing $3.5m in a funding round in February. EPA-EFE













Hussam Hammo is as confident about the prospects for his games publishing business, Tamatem, as any start-up founder.



"We're looking at doubling, and tripling, the size of the company. If we are 55 employees today, we want to reach 100 by the end of the year,“ he tells The National over a videoconferencing interview from his home in the Jordanian capital of Amman.



However, he also admits being more careful with the cash provided to him by investors - the company has raised $6 million (Dh22m) so far through two significant funding rounds - than many of his competitors.



"I hold on to money that investors give, because I saw it before and I don't want that repeated,“ he says. "A lot of investors say 'go crazy, do