StartPlaying

StartPlaying is the largest online platform for players to find tabletop roleplaying games and professional GMs for any game system and any virtual tabletop.

# High-Level Overview

StartPlaying is the largest online platform for players to find tabletop roleplaying games and professional Game Masters for any game system and virtual tabletop.[4] The company operates in the Multimedia, Games & Graphics Software industry with a mission centered on building community through play.[2] StartPlaying serves tabletop RPG enthusiasts by connecting them with professional dungeon masters and game masters running games across multiple systems—from Dungeons & Dragons to Pathfinder 2e and beyond.[4] The platform solves a fundamental problem in the TTRPG community: the difficulty of finding compatible players and experienced game facilitators in an increasingly distributed, online world. With over 20,000 players having found online D&D groups through the platform, StartPlaying demonstrates meaningful growth momentum in a niche but passionate gaming segment.[4]

The company employs 5 to 9 people and generates less than $5 million in annual revenue.[1] Beyond its core marketplace, StartPlaying has expanded into adjacent offerings, including corporate team-building events run by professional game masters and an AI companion named Ava that provides real-time gameplay assistance.[3][4]

# Origin Story

StartPlaying was founded with the explicit goal of addressing loneliness and fragmentation in gaming communities.[2] The company received seed funding from prominent venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz and Y Combinator, with the seed round closing on May 13, 2022.[3] This backing from tier-one investors signals early validation of the TTRPG marketplace opportunity. The founding team includes product designers, software engineers, and operations professionals with diverse startup experience across customer service, health & fitness, IoT, and async communication.[2] The team's shared values emphasize continuous improvement, playfulness, and inclusive community building—principles that directly inform the platform's design and culture.

# Core Differentiators

• Marketplace focus: StartPlaying operates as a dedicated discovery and booking platform specifically for tabletop RPGs, rather than a general gaming platform or virtual tabletop software competitor.

• Professional GM network: The platform aggregates hundreds of professional game masters, creating a supply-side advantage that differentiates it from peer-to-peer alternatives where players must organize games themselves.

• Multi-system agnosticism: Unlike platforms tied to specific game systems, StartPlaying supports any TTRPG system and any virtual tabletop, reducing friction for players with diverse preferences.

• Community-first positioning: The company explicitly frames itself around combating loneliness and building genuine social bonds, positioning the service as more than transactional matchmaking.

• Expanding product ecosystem: The addition of Ava (an AI gameplay assistant) and corporate team-building events demonstrates product diversification beyond the core marketplace.

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

StartPlaying rides several converging trends: the explosive growth of tabletop RPGs as a cultural phenomenon (driven by shows like *Stranger Things* and *Critical Role*), the normalization of remote and hybrid work (increasing demand for virtual team-building), and the maturation of online communities as a primary social infrastructure. The timing is particularly favorable as the TTRPG market has shifted from niche hobby to mainstream entertainment, with major publishers and streaming platforms investing heavily in the space.

The platform influences the broader ecosystem by professionalizing game mastering—transforming it from an unpaid hobby into a viable income stream for skilled facilitators. This creates a virtuous cycle: more professional GMs attract more serious players, which attracts more investment and product development. StartPlaying's success also validates the marketplace model for gaming communities, potentially inspiring similar platforms in adjacent spaces (board games, wargaming, etc.).

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

StartPlaying is well-positioned to capture significant value as tabletop RPGs continue their mainstream ascent. The company's early backing from Andreessen Horowitz and Y Combinator, combined with its first-mover advantage in the TTRPG marketplace space, suggests investor confidence in the long-term opportunity. Key questions for the company's evolution include: whether it can maintain its position as the dominant discovery platform as competitors emerge, how effectively it can monetize beyond marketplace fees, and whether AI-assisted gameplay (via Ava) becomes a core value driver or a peripheral feature.

The most likely trajectory involves continued expansion into adjacent revenue streams—corporate events, premium features for GMs, and AI-powered tools—while defending the core marketplace. As the TTRPG market matures and consolidates, StartPlaying's ability to build genuine community (rather than just transactional efficiency) may prove to be its most defensible moat.