Human Computer, an innovative independent game studio founded by former Airbnb executives Alex Schleifer and Eliot Garcia Weisberg, has successfully closed a $5.7 million seed funding round led by Makers Fund, with participation from prominent investors including a16z and Belinda Johnson, Airbnb’s former COO. This significant investment raises Human Computer’s total funding to $7.7 million, empowering the company to accelerate its vision of creating compelling and thoughtfully designed interactive experiences. Tyler Matheson of Makers Fund will join the company’s board, offering strategic guidance alongside Sam Rosenthal, founder of The Game Band, who steps in as Human Computer’s first official advisor.
The founders, Schleifer and Weisberg, previously collaborated at Airbnb, with Schleifer serving as Chief Design Officer. Leveraging decades of combined experience in technology and media, the duo has set ambitious goals to revolutionize game development practices. Schleifer emphasized their foundational belief in the power of gaming as a storytelling medium, stating, “At Human Computer, we truly believe that games are the most powerful medium for telling new stories and launching global entertainment properties.” Schleifer further elaborated on the studio’s distinct approach, highlighting their commitment to producing premium “Triple-I” indie games—projects that merge high production quality with efficient and player-respecting development processes, enabled by smaller teams and innovative toolsets.
The funding milestone coincides with Human Computer’s active development of several titles designed specifically for the latest generation of consoles, PCs, and mobile platforms. These games aim to experiment boldly with gameplay mechanics, offering highly focused and self-contained experiences without compromising on visual fidelity or storytelling depth. The studio is particularly excited about integrating cutting-edge technologies that will open new possibilities for both game creation and player engagement, enhancing the overall storytelling potential and stretching the boundaries of traditional game narratives.
COO and Gameplay Director Eliot Garcia Weisberg underscores Human Computer’s intent to carve out fresh intellectual properties, noting the studio’s strategy to differentiate itself from an industry often saturated by sequels and established franchises. He remarked, “Our team understands that the new properties we’re creating may have the opportunity to transcend into other entertainment mediums, but Human Computer’s dedication and foundation will always be games.” Weisberg firmly believes in gaming’s unique capacity to provide impactful and meaningful experiences that traditional media cannot replicate, a conviction shaping their developmental philosophy.
The strategic support from Makers Fund further validates Human Computer’s transformative approach to indie gaming. Jay Chi, founding partner at Makers Fund, praised the innovative development model pioneered by the Human Computer team, emphasizing its ability to consistently deliver high-quality narrative experiences combined with inventive and experimental gameplay. Chi expressed confidence in Schleifer and Weisberg’s leadership, stating, “We are proud to support Alex and Eliot’s vision to transform the indie game development process,” underscoring his belief that Human Computer’s fresh take on game creation will significantly impact the broader industry landscape.