The Dungeon Masters and Game Masters of StartPlaying hit an epic milestone: as of December 2023, DMs/GMs have earned over $17 million running tabletop RPGs. That’s a lot of loot to get in a few years, a testament to the amazing effort put forth by GMs. It also shows that people are awakening to the joys of playing D&D online and that StartPlaying is the best platform for finding online D&D games, or any TTRPG.
Over 50k players have found games with StartPlaying. Convenience is one of the big draws. GMs come from all over the planet and run games in many different time zones. They run various game systems, welcome players of all skill levels, and create inclusive spaces. Players who struggle to find consistent groups know that they’ll get a GM who shows up prepared every week.
StartPlaying started by providing a way to find games when they were needed most: during the shutdowns of 2020. With people in need of a social activity but unable to gather in person, online games rose in popularity. StartPlaying heeded the call with its launch in September 2020. The site instantly met demand for a way to find fellow players and GMs, with GMs earning over $1 million in the first year. Even after the shutdowns ended, StartPlaying continues to be the answer for “Where is Tinder but for D&D parties?”
A big reason StartPlaying works is that it has a strong foundation in gaming, tech, and fostering community.
One of the founders, Devon Chulik, made waves as far back as 2019 by being featured in a Bloomberg article called “The Rise of the Professional Dungeon Master.” The job was presented as a novelty at a time when pop culture explosion and gig economy necessity gave birth to weird occupations. Devon was shown as something of a forefather to the notion that people could make money running D&D sessions. He had started moonlighting as a pro GM to fund his Actual Play Studio, Total Party Chill, but ended up revealing that there was a huge market for it.
The dam burst once the news spread; Devon received over 700 emails, DMs, and messages about his work. Most from other GMs looking for the secret to his success. How could they also do what they love, running TTRPG games, for a living? Of the many people reaching out, one would set Devon on a new course.
StartPlaying cofounder Nate Tucker had been trying to get a D&D group going for a long time. He faced common campaign killers: no one wanted to GM, schedules never lined up, and life got in the way. He met Devon over a chance phone call in March 2020. It was the perfect timing to combine Devon’s pro DM experience, the clear demand for a TTRPG connection service, and Nate’s skillset.
Nate is a Harvard graduate who had years of tech industry experience by that point: Microsoft, Facebook, and Google are part of his resumé. Devon had the business side down, having worked for a number of notable ecommerce companies like Dollskill, Everlane and Chubbies Shorts. He was also strongly focused on community; he served as president of a San Francisco Merchant and Neighborhood Association, and created an Art Gallery and Community space in San Francisco in 2008. They just needed one more thing, and Jared Gollhardt would provide.
Jared describes himself as an “avid gamer at heart” who plays MMOs and strategy board games with equal passion. He’s an RPI graduate with nine years of experience in tech, including leading engineering teams. With that experience and deep love of gaming, he completed the trio into a dream team.
Over the course of that first year, the StartPlaying crew realized they were doing more than providing a place to find games. They were helping create micro communities of GMs and Players. The people connected by the platform formed bonds outside their games. The team often hears stories about GMs who have officiated player’s weddings, groups that got matching tattoos, and parties that traveled miles to meet in person. These communities foster real connections and battle loneliness in a time when few spaces do.
It was clear right away that StartPlaying was a success. The previously mentioned $1 million in the first year was just the start. During the second year, GMs had earned over $4 million. Then, in 2022, StartPlaying secured over $6.5 million in VC backing from a16z, one of the most prestigious VCs in the world. The funds were aimed at doubling the team’s size and broadening the reach of the platform. In this way, the service’s diversity and quality would deepen. “We’re investing in putting together a world-class team,” as Nate put it.
And that brings us to 2024, and that $17 million figure. StartPlaying continues to grow, as do its offerings. GMs are still running plenty of D&D for people like Nate who struggle to find a consistent group. There’s high-level D&D, beginner games, homebrew, streamlined versions of popular modules, and pretty much anything else you can think of.
Yet there’s also a surge of indie TTRPGs and games of all genres. StartPlaying has partnered with publishers and virtual tabletops to offer special events highlighting different games. The partners offer subscriptions or even free campaign books to GMs who run their products. This in turn draws in brand new players, either from the GM’s player base or fans of those games who haven’t been able to get their friends to play. Past events have included award-winning Indigenous hit Coyote & Crow and Marvel’s latest TTRPG.
StartPlaying is off to a great start in 2024, with several upcoming initiatives for making things easier for GMs. Meanwhile, TTRPGs in general continue to grow. There’s something out there for all tastes and plenty of cool people waiting for the perfect addition to their table. Our platform continues to help you find your ideal group and start playing.