Kazakhstani mobile game developer invests in Karaganda food delivery service
In late June, Grand Games, a mobile game developer from Kazakhstan, acquired a 75% stake in Emenu, a food delivery service based in Karaganda. According to Roman Lineytsev, the 27-year-old founder of Grand Games, the goal is to expand Emenu into new cities and boost its nationwide presence, competing with international food delivery platforms.
Despite foreign players dominating Kazakhstan’s food delivery market, Lineytsev believes there’s room for local competitors. He noted that Kazakhstan has reached a level of technological maturity where local businesses can successfully compete with international services.
«The acquisition of Emenu is a strategic move to develop a local product deeply attuned to Kazakhstani consumers,» Lineytsev explained. «We’re investing in improved user experience, enhancing the app interface, and increasing delivery speed and accuracy. Operational efficiency will also be a key focus — from better logistics and full process automation to building an advanced analytics system.»
The next step, according to Lineytsev, is expanding Emenu’s partner network throughout Kazakhstan. He plans to leverage the team’s internal resources, technical expertise, and experience in building scalable digital products. This includes attracting new restaurants and couriers while also forming sustainable relationships with local suppliers and tech partners.
«Our goal goes beyond competing — we want to offer a high-quality, modern alternative tailored to domestic users. With support from local businesses and our customers, we believe we can achieve sustainable growth,» he added.
Roman Malchenko, founder of Emenu, described the deal with Grand Games as a strategic and timely move that aligns with the company’s long-term vision.
«In mid-2023, we approached Big Sky Capital VC for consulting support. Together, we analyzed Emenu’s financial model and business processes, and at the time, the company was valued at $3 million,» Malchenko said. «This deal brings fresh investment and strong partners, which I believe will help us scale up in the coming quarters — and potentially enter international markets.»
Founded in 2014 in Karaganda, Emenu has steadily grown beyond its home city. Today, the service operates in over 15 cities, processing between 30,000 and 60,000 orders per month, totaling more than 500,000 deliveries per year.
Grand Games is best known for Grand Mobile, an open-world mobile online game often dubbed the «Kazakhstani GTA.» The game has been downloaded over 60 million times, with its popularity continuing to rise. In early July, Grand Mobile secured a $750,000 investment from Astana Hub Venture, at a company valuation of $75 million.
