On this episode of Story Mode with Sanlo, Olya speaks with Chris Faught, Founder and CEO of Neon, about the lessons to be learned from the eCommerce and FinTech industries and how those insights can be applied to gaming. They touch on a wide range of topics, including:

• The world of BNPL (Buy now, pay later) and Affirm's origin story.

• The obsession that successful eCommerce businesses have with optimizing the checkout experience.

• How game developers partnership with the app stores is similar to merchants and Amazon in the early 2000s.

• The opportunity around going D2C in gaming and the benefits of that model.

• How owning direct customer relationships decreases the burden on distribution and UA in the future.

• How D2C can unlock better data-driven learning and personalization.

• The importance of consumer trust when handling D2C payments.

• When it makes sense for any given game/studio to have their own D2C channel(s)

• VCs are now asking startups about their D2C strategy in the pitch process.

• The opportunity associated with regional app stores and what could change the long-tail model in gaming.

• How studios should decide to build or partner when it comes to D2C and web shop tech and operations?

About Chris

Chris is CEO of Neon, which he founded in 2022 to help game developers build direct-to-consumer (D2C) strategies and tools to create lasting brands. Before founding Neon, Chris gained extensive experience in eCommerce, fintech, and strategy roles. He worked at Apple on the strategy for Apple Pay, Apple Card, and Apple Pay Later. At Affirm, he held leadership positions in commercial strategy, contributing to the company’s growth from Series B through its IPO. Chris also played a key role in launching the fintech company ONE, backed by Walmart and Ribbit Capital. Earlier in his career, he worked at Facebook and Booz & Company, gaining expertise in go-to-market strategy and corporate development.