Game Jam to Startup: Tiny Nomads Win Big and Launch New Game Company

Jad Tawbi, Axel Sandstedt, and Leo Wognum met as game students at Uppsala University Campus Gotland. They studied game design in different fields and ended up working on multiple projects together during their time at the university.

“The three of us, along with others, decided to stay on Gotland when many students left as the education transitioned to an online format. That made us a very tight-knit group of friends. We quickly realized that we complemented each other's strengths, and our brainstorming sessions always ended in belly laughs,” says Jad Tawbi.

After graduating in 2022, the three of them went down different paths and into various industries. It wasn’t until a year later, in the Spring of 2023, that Jad found out about a game jam called Lv. 99. He contacted his former study buddies to ask if they wanted to join him in the competition.

“Almost a year had passed since our graduation, and we all missed working together. That’s why both Leo and I didn’t hesitate for a second to join Jad in the game jam for a week of silly development shenanigans,” says Axel Sandstedt.

The participants of the game jam had to create a game in nine days, based on the theme “Take a Deep Breath.”

“That’s when the journey started. We came together and developed a game prototype called Nasal Nomad: Sniffer's Delight. We thought to ourselves, ‘Why not make a game where you play as a nose?’ The initial design of Sniffer the Nose came soon after in the form of a crude Paint drawing,” says Leo Wognum.

The game ended up being one of the top three finalists, and the team was invited to Singapore to pitch to a panel of esteemed judges, including representatives from SEGA, the Japanese Olympics Organization, Refract Technologies, Project99, PICO XR, and the Swedish Esports Association, among others.

The team delivered a successful pitch and was declared the winner among more than 350 games from around the world, securing a cash prize of $50,000 USD.

“I couldn’t believe it. What started as a curious decision and ended up taking us to Singapore was a dream come true,” says Jad Tawbi.

Following their success at the game jam, the team decided to continue working on Sniffer’s Delight. They wrapped up their ongoing studies and jobs, and finally reunited to focus on turning the game into a complete title.

“That’s when we contacted the startup program Sweden Game Startup and founded the company Tiny Nomads AB. We learned about the program because I had spoken with Aurora Art’s founder and CEO, Tilla Segerstedt, who is also part of the startup program, during a Future Games talk,” says Jad Tawbi.

Most recently, the team received support from Sweden Game Startup to attend Gamescom in Cologne, where they met potential publishers and investors.

“Our time at Gamescom was filled with great connections and valuable insights into the current landscape of the games industry. We had the honor of showcasing our game Sniffer's Delight to people from all over the world. It further demonstrated that the laughter sparked by our silly game concept transcends borders and cultures alike,” says Leo Wognum.

The next phase for the team is to work towards securing funding and partners through publishers and investors, while refining both the company and game vision.

“We are really excited about the future of the team and the game,” says Axel Sandstedt.

Enjoy a whiff of adventure in this nose-talgic journey, one inhale and exhale at a time!

In this 3D puzzle platformer, you play as Sniffer, a runny nose with snotty legs and toes. One unfortunate day, you are stolen from your human and discarded into the smelly sewers below, where every breath counts. Discover a hidden metropolis teeming with whimsical critters and curious creatures as you find your way back to the surface. However, all is not well—an unknown troublemaker has been stirring up chaos, and now your new subterranean friends need your help to restore their home to its former glory!

Embark on a quirky adventure and become one with your nosey senses as you unlock more snot-so-typical abilities throughout your journey.

Enjoy a light-hearted, comedic, and wholesome story that’s perfect for all ages, accompanied by a funky, toe-tapping soundtrack.

As Sniffer wisely said: “Every sneeze tells a story. Bless you!”