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Shurick Agapitov

Founder

Xsolla

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Shurick Agapitov

Randa Apparel & Accessories

Yakof Agius & Associates

Shurick’s Biography

Shurick Agapitov is a highly regarded, innovative founder, advisor, and author in gaming, Web3, Metaverse, and fintech. He is the Founder of Xsolla, Inc., a global video game company that provides developers with tools and blockchain-powered services to operate and sell games more effectively. Xsolla has offices worldwide, including Los Angeles, Berlin, Seoul, and Dubai.

Shurick’s mission with Xsolla is to revolutionize the gaming industry, empowering gamers, developers, and communities to monetize the Metaverse. He leads Xsolla’s global team in shifting the industry's dynamics, putting control in the hands of gamers and communities. A prime example is Xsolla Funding Club, an investment network supporting small studios with capital while preserving their creative independence.

Inclusivity is central to Shurick’s work. As the Founder of XLA, he ensures Web3 concepts are accessible to all, fostering collaboration among gamers and developers with fair revenue sharing. He also co-founded 80 Level, a global digital publishing network, and Slemma, a reporting tool that simplifies creating... Shurick Agapitov is a highly regarded, innovative founder, advisor, and author in gaming, Web3, Metaverse, and fintech. He is the Founder of Xsolla, Inc., a global video game company that provides developers with tools and blockchain-powered services to operate and sell games more effectively. Xsolla has offices worldwide, including Los Angeles, Berlin, Seoul, and Dubai.

Shurick’s mission with Xsolla is to revolutionize the gaming industry, empowering gamers, developers, and communities to monetize the Metaverse. He leads Xsolla’s global team in shifting the industry's dynamics, putting control in the hands of gamers and communities. A prime example is Xsolla Funding Club, an investment network supporting small studios with capital while preserving their creative independence.

Inclusivity is central to Shurick’s work. As the Founder of XLA, he ensures Web3 concepts are accessible to all, fostering collaboration among gamers and developers with fair revenue sharing. He also co-founded 80 Level, a global digital publishing network, and Slemma, a reporting tool that simplifies creating data reports from multiple sources.

Shurick authored Once Upon Tomorrow, an innovative book that explores the Metaverse’s potential to reshape creativity and amplify human potential. His thought leadership has earned him features in Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, and Boss Magazine, as well as interviews with Fintech Futures and Block Tides.

He also serves as an Advisor to Market, a platform for trading virtual items and building metaverses. Shurick holds a Mathematics and Computer Science degree from Perm State University and has completed Executive Education programs at Harvard, Wharton, and UCLA. READ MORE VIEW LESS

Shurick’s Newsfeed

Businesswire

Xsolla and ALTAVA Group Announce Strategic Partnership

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80LV

Xsolla Teams Up with MetaGravity's Quark Multiplayer

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Shurick’s Background

Xsolla

Founder

Jul 2005 - Present

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Xsolla is a global video game commerce company. Its mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help its partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Twitch, Roblox, Ubisoft, Epic Games, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios and more.

XLA

Founding Member

Feb 2022 - Present

Los Angeles, CA, USA

XLA: Powering the Metaverse. XLA provides tools and services that change how IP creators, owners, and holders generate, earn and share revenue, building the bridge between Web2 and Web3 and simplifying the complexity of Web3 payments for non-technical users.

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Shurick’s Gallery

Shurick Agapitov at a conference for Xsolla

Shurick Agapitov and the Xsolla team

Shurick Agapitov at work in Xsolla office

Shurick Agapitov at a conference for Xsolla

Shurick Agapitov speaking at a conference for Xsolla

Xsolla at a conference

Shurick Agapitov at an event for Xsolla

Shurick Agapitov at a conference for Xsolla

Shurick Agapitov and the Xsolla team

Shurick Agapitov at work in Xsolla office

Shurick Agapitov at a conference for Xsolla

Shurick Agapitov speaking at a conference for Xsolla

Xsolla at a conference

Shurick Agapitov at an event for Xsolla

Advisory Roles

DMarket

Advisor

Nov 2017 - Present

Kyiv, UA

DMarket unlocks the multi-billion-dollar skins economy for game developers and players everywhere. Our team of passionate gamers believes a borderless gaming world is a better gaming world, and we’re building the infrastructure to make it easy for everyone to thrive in the open system of the future.

Media

The Chris Voss Show Podcast | Shurick Agapitov

Podcast

Mar 2024

Shurick is featured on The Chris Voss Show in this podcast and they talk about his book 'Once Upon Tomorrow: Harnessing the New Opportunities the Metaverse Creates'.

Metaverse true believers say ‘I told you so’ after Apple’s Vision Pro launch

Quoted

Jun 2023

New York, NY, USA

The Vision Pro is “bringing the metaverse back with a vengeance,” said Aleksandr “Shurick” Agapitov, founder of the multibillion-dollar videogame company Xsolla. “The most important thing with Vision Pro is it makes good on the promise of a 3-D internet.”

Xsolla Adds Venmo as Additional Payment Options for the Next Generation Of Gamers

Jun 2023

Pay Station, the gaming industry's customizable, multi-platform checkout product, now accepts Venmo payments. With the addition of Venmo, developers and publishers will have greater access to younger users in the U.S., and gamers can rest assured knowing their transaction is secure.

Xsolla and Youappi Aim to Grow Mobile Game Revenue with Web Shop

May 2023

Xsolla and retargeting platform YouAppi joined forces to help video game developers retain, retarget and re-engage mobile app users.

Xsolla Drops: An Out of the Box Community Building Tool

May 2023

Xsolla Drops is a comprehensive tool that combines influencer marketing with exclusive digital content. Drops is an extension of Xsolla’s existing marketing solution, Xsolla Partner Network.

Mastercard and Xsolla Level up the Gaming Experience

Feb 2023

Mastercard and Xsolla will work together to enable innovative card and account-based solutions and services to improve digital experiences in payments and beyond for gamers.

Enjoy the Game with Xsolla

Los Angeles, CA, USA

As an innovative leader in Gaming Payment Solutions and Video Game commerce, Xsolla's mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help its partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers around the world.

Virtual influencer Babka and cyber-cat sidekick Nushi team up to celebrate game developers around the world at GDC

Mar 2023

Babka.com is a digital wallet that helps manage all Xsolla products and gives developers the ability to deliver drops, NFTs and any other digital item goods to users.

Accelerate Your Video Game Commerce Globally with Xsolla

Los Angeles, CA, USA

Xsolla has the tools and services to help people accelerate their video game commerce and step into the future. Whether someone is an indie developer or a AAA studio, their journey as a game developer begins here.

Xsolla Expands Digital Distribution Hub to Connect Game Developers and Telecommunications Carriers

Feb 2023

New York, NY, USA

Xsolla's Digital Distribution Hub solution is a single portal for online and offline distribution channels and brands that create and distribute entertainment content for their users.

Expand to new platforms and take your games direct-to-consumer

Nov 2022

San Francisco, CA, USA

Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla, explains how Xsolla's services can help people expand their own video game business. Chris also discusses the myriad services offered by Xsolla.

As turbulence ramps up, Xsolla solutions unlock new strategies for game developers

Oct 2022

New York, NY, USA

This interview with Chris Hewish, President of Xsolla, explores how video game studios and indie developers are exploring an increasing number of ways to reach their audiences.

5 Best Gaming and VFX Companies to Watch 2022

Oct 2022

Trenton, NJ, USA

Xsolla was recognized for its work helping game developers and publishers - from indie developers to enterprises - with distribution, marketing, and monetization services.

Xsolla’s Pay Station update adds web shops, streamlined payments and a startup accelerator

Aug 2022

New York, NY, USA

Xsolla updated its payment system to make it easier for game developers to open alternative web shops and raise money through a startup accelerator.

XLA Releases Metamall Products to Empower Revenue Sharing in Web3

Jul 2022

XLA, the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), has launched its new branding with a series of products and websites. Notable among these products is Metamall, which has building blocks to support the creation of content and design in the Metaverse, as well as a credit card and a technology based on NFT.

Nexters Gains Revenue and Reach by Expanding Hero Wars to the Web with Payment Solution by Xsolla

May 2022

Malmö, SE

To support scaling on the web Nexters needed a set of tools, including payment solutions. Nexters collaborated with Xsolla and used their Mobile Game Commerce solution, which proved to be a reliable tool for growing games on new platforms.

Video Game Junkie Quietly Builds $3 Billion Payments Powerhouse

Apr 2022

New York, NY, USA

This Bloomberg article highlights how Shurick Agapitov developed his ideas for Xsolla, and what is in store for the company and Shurick's other ventures.

Xsolla Expands Mobile and Digital Distribution Solution Offerings and Adds an NFT Checkout to the Growing Set of Tools and Services for Developers

Apr 2022

New York, NY, USA

Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, announced that it has expanded their mobile and digital distribution solutions to provide more opportunities for developers to launch and grow their games around the world.

XLA —The New Web3 Enterprise

Feb 2022

This article discusses the continued emergence of Web3, and highlights Shurick's new venture, the XLA, a community-driven project designed to change the incumbent corporate relationship in the workplace.

Like a cheat code for developers, Xsolla pioneers video game funding & investment

Jan 2022

This article discusses the impetus for the founding and the work done by Xsolla, the new entity Xsolla Funding, which matches developers with funding sources, and the life's journey of Shurick Agapitov.

Improve your user experience with passwordless authentication

Aug 2021

This article discusses how Xsolla Login and passwordless authentication can remove the risk of weak, reused, and leaked passwords during registration

Want To Invest In Games? New Platform Aims To Revolutionize Indie Funding

Jul 2021

New York, NY, USA

This article discusses the emergence of Xsolla and how it is working to supply developers with another means of funding their projects to finish and launch, while maintaining control over their games throughout.

Xsolla launches investment platform for indie games with up to $40M

Jul 2021

Xsolla is launching a game investment platform for indie games, and the payments platform will invest as much as $40 million alongside other accredited investors. Xsolla's aim is to keep the interests of the independent gamers and developers aligned with its own interests by financing individual projects and not controlling them.

Xsolla teams up with Devcom on year-long strategic partnership

Jun 2021

Devcom, the game developer conference that accompanies the giant Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany, has signed a year-long strategic partnership with Xsolla. The two companies hope it will lead to good things for game developers and creators in emerging countries.

Xsolla offers strategic guidance for selling your game studio

Apr 2021

New York, NY, USA

Xsolla is offering a new service called Xsolla Exit Strategies that could help entrepreneurs sell their game studios or projects. And it exercised its own advice yesterday by buying analytics and data visualization firm Slemma.

Xsolla Offers Exit Strategies to Game Studios for Exit Advising and Planning

Apr 2021

New York, NY, USA

Xsolla Exit Strategies is a new service that will connect development studios with financial and transaction advisors, guiding them through the process of selling their game property or studio, from due diligence preparation to exiting.

Xsolla launches Unconventional for game-like virtual events

Oct 2020

New York, NY, USA

Game payments firm Xsolla is launching Unconventional, a platform for holding virtual events with 3D avatars inside 3D worlds for the game industry.

How Xsolla provides developers with a game business engine

Jul 2020

New York, NY, USA

Xsolla is a video game powerhouse, but chances are you haven’t heard of it. That’s because the company stays behind the scenes as it provides what it calls a “business engine” for game developers, and it has done so for 15 years.

Xsolla introduces Business Engine – data-driven recommendations to drive growth

May 2020

London, UK

Xsolla has added a new Business Engine feature to its interface to better help clients navigate the various options available with personalised recommendations. Xsolla describes it as “a data-driven system designed to provide customized recommendations and access to our network of resources to drive revenue and growth for companies."

Video Game Companies Search for Marketing Alternatives After E3 Shutters

Mar 2020

Xsolla tells The Hollywood Reporter: “We completely understand the need for caution and the cancellation of E3, but of course we were disappointed." Earlier this week, THR revealed that Xsolla would host a “virtual Game Developer’s Carnival” as an alternative to exhibiting at the postponed Game Developers Conference.

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Interviews

NTD Business

Oct 2022

Shurick Agapitov shares his journey to founding Xsolla and how he sees the Metaverse developing in the future. The interview with Shurick begins at 18:38.

Block Tides' exclusive interview with Shurick Agapitov, the founder of Xsolla

Oct 2022

Shurick Agapitov joins Block Tides to discuss Xsolla, the world’s leading micro-transaction engine for video games, which gives the game developer community the tools to compete and succeed in the hyper-competitive video game arena and control their destiny.

FinTech World: Shurick Agapitov

Sep 2022

Fintech World explores the Meta-Verse with Shurick Agapitov, founder of the company XLA. Shurick discusses his early career and how he worked his way to a highly successful and innovative company, working with the top names and talent in the gaming world.

Revenue Sharing with Web3 at Consensus with Shurick Agapitov

Sep 2022

Laptop Radio chats with Shurick Agapitov on Revenue Sharing in Web3 at Consensus.

The future of gaming, Web3 and the metaverse

Jun 2022

Shurick Agapitov joins the Growth Manifesto podcast to discuss the future of gaming, the metaverse, Facebook, Web3 and what changes he expects to see in the next 5-8 years.

Shurick Agapitov & the “Xsolla Funding” platform

Jan 2022

Shurick Agapitov joins the Mo’Kelly Show to discuss the new video game investing platform 'Xsolla Funding'.

Meet the Company That Helps Game Developers Get Seen and Get Paid

Nov 2018

New York, NY, USA

Entrepreneur spoke with founder and Xsolla CEO Shurick Agapitov about his company's success and the ins-and-outs of serving an industry that loyal fans will spend $140 billion on this year.

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Features

Web3 Gaming Innovation with XLA

Mar 2023

This feature, published by Matter Labs, highlights Xsolla's groundbreaking XLA, a community-driven organization designed to democratize how creators benefit from their work by utilizing novel technologies and concepts of Web3.

Tech Billionaire Who Seeks to Develop Metaverse Shares Life Story

Oct 2022

Tech billionaire Shurick Agapitov, founder of video-game payments firm X-Solla, shares his life story about how he started as a kid growing up in poverty in Russia to how he became a successful entrepreneur.

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Publications

Book | Once Upon Tomorrow

Author

Jan 2024

In Once Upon Tomorrow, visionary tech CEO Shurick Agapitov explores the metaverse and its transformative potential for the internet’s next era. This shift promises to revolutionize human interaction, storytelling, business, and daily experiences at a foundational level.

Once Upon Tomorrow: Harnessing the New Opportunities the Metaverse Creates

Author

New York, NY, USA

In 'Once Upon Tomorrow', Shurick Agapitov dives deep into this new age of the internet by unpacking exactly what the Metaverse is and what it will become. Seeing it as a total paradigm shift, he discusses how it will revolutionize how people interact, share stories, create and implement ideas, conduct business and live their lives. 'Once Upon Tomorrow' has a publication date of March of 2024.

Awards & Recognition

Merit Awards | Technology

Gold Medal

2022

Xsolla was honored with the Gold Medal award in the Gaming category. The Merit Awards is an independent awards program that recognizes global industries and the market they serve.

5 Best Gaming and VFX Companies to Watch 2022

2022

Trenton, NJ, USA

Xsolla is recognized for its service to the video game industry, notably its dedication to helping businesses of all sizes, from indie to enterprise, as well as developers, publishers, and platform partners.

Training & Management Courses

The Wharton School | University of Pennsylvania

Executive Education: Private Equity

Philadelphia, PA, USA

The Private Equity: Investing and Creating Value program is designed for institutional investors as well as investment professionals aspiring to be better private equity managers.

Harvard Business School

OPM 55

2020

Cambridge, MA, USA

The Owner/President Management (OPM) program is a transformative learning experience that will boost participants' leadership skills and the value of their enterprise. Participants gain a broader global perspective, a deeper understanding of operations and greater insight into driving operational excellence.

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Speaking Engagements

Qatar Economic Forum Participants: Metaverse Revolution Will Transform the World

Speaker

May 2024

Doha, QA

Shurick Agapitov, Founder and CEO of Xsolla, participated in a session called "Metaverse: The Future of the Internet?" at the Qatar Economic Forum. Participants concluded that the Metaverse will completely transform the world with giant technology companies competing with each other to develop products that align with this new era.

Press Releases

Xsolla Announces New Office Location in Kuala Lumpur as Part of Continued Expansion and Commitment to Asia

Jan 2023

New York, NY, USA

The new office in Kuala Lumpur will be the largest Xsolla office globally outside of Los Angeles, where it is headquartered. This expansion helps Xsolla offer its growing list of innovative products to even more game companies worldwide.

Xsolla: Democratizing the Business Side of Games

Nov 2022

Chris Hewish, Xsolla President, discusses the evolution of game development tools that have democratized the development of games. In addition, he discusses Xsolla and how the company's tools are at the forefront of this new emerging industry.

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Shurick’s Education

Perm State University

Mathematics and Computer Science