📣 Calling For Podcast Guests: “Coaching In Public” Episodes
I am launching in Q4 a new podcast series recording raw and unfiltered coaching sessions with me.
“Sophie can take me from freaking out at the beginning of our chats to feeling empowered and motivated just a few minutes later.”
"Sophie's sessions helping founders of all types was a life-changing process, even for this almost 30-year veteran.”
"I came into the session exhausted, like many founders—but Sophie created the perfect space to pause, reflect, and reconnect.”
Do you want to experience the magic, too? ✨
Contact me at sophie@riseandplay.io to join a coaching episode as a guest.
In this episode,
sits down with indie game developer and Filipina studio co-founder Danni Ann Taylor to explore the realities of starting and running a game studio—while raising a family—without outside funding.Dani shares her journey from early gaming passion to launching Yang Yang Mobile with her husband in the Philippines, building a reputation for high-quality visual novels like The Letter, and developing their latest title, High Time.
From risky leaps of faith to strategic pivots, Danni discusses the balance between creative vision and business realities, the challenges of working with your life partner, and how to grow a team without losing the joy of making games.
She also opens up about her unconventional daily schedule , the role of her support system, and how she handles founder guilt while raising three children.
Key Learnings
Starting Before 30 & Bootstrapping
Danni and her husband started their studio shortly after she gave birth, believing it was better to “fail early” than wait until later in life.
Bootstrapped the business using life savings, layoff packages, and small family loans—no investors, to keep creative freedom.
Finding Success By Pivoting To What You Love
Initially aimed for hyper-casual mobile games but shifted to visual novels after realizing mobile required heavy UA spending.
Created The Letter and used Kickstarter to secure funding, leveraging her own passion and understanding of the VN audience.
Indie Studios Success: Standing Out in a Niche
Elevated the standard for indie visual novels: full English voice acting, animated backgrounds, branching storylines that impact the journey—not just the ending.
Added minigames and interactivity to make titles more engaging for streamers and viewers.
Sustainable Growth vs Scale
Grew from a 7-person team to around 20—deliberately staying small to balance creative work and manageable leadership.
Avoided scaling too fast after seeing the strain of expansion.
Balancing Family & Business
Relies on family and trusted help for childcare and household management.
Embraces a night-owl schedule with split work blocks to balance deep focus time, family moments, and personal space.
Top Quality Is The Best Marketing
Focus on making a “really darn good game” so fans and streamers want to share it.
Built a small but loyal fanbase who amplify launches and sustain visibility.
Links & Resources
Yang Yang Mobile Website
Wishlist High Time on Steam: Steam Page Link
Rise and Play Leadership coaching
