Tara Mustapha
Code Coven
Tara Mustapha is an award-winning founder, game developer, and strategic advisor. With over two decades in the industry, from AAA titles like the Skate franchise to pioneering indie initiatives, Tara is recognised for her bold leadership, strategic clarity, and commitment to reshaping how the games industry supports creative excellence.
She is the Founder and CEO of Code Coven, the launchpad for marginalised game developers. Through world-class education, mentorship, and business acceleration, Code Coven nurtures the next generation of diverse studios and storytellers built to thrive, not just survive.
Tara’s work spans collaborations with Netflix, Epic Games, Riot, Meta, and the BFI. She has raised over £1 million to create meaningful access, opportunity, and impact in games. She’s known for building things that last, asking better questions, and refusing to compromise on the vision of an industry that reflects the brilliance of its people.
She’s also a proud Gooner, fuelled by caffeine, is mildly obsessed with romantasy fiction and trying to raise a kind and boundary-ed toddler while helping reshape an industry to make space for both.
Tara Mustapha is speaking at the following session/s
KEYNOTE: Build What You Have: Rethinking Studio Sustainability in 2025
Many of today’s studio leaders came up experimenting with whatever tools they had - hacking, prototyping, modding, and storytelling in unexpected ways. That same mindset is exactly what the industry needs now, not just to survive, but to rediscover why we make games in the first place.
In this keynote, Code Coven founder Tara Mustapha shares a vision for building sustainable, inclusive studios in a time of economic pressure and creative uncertainty. Drawing from her firsthand experience supporting hundreds of marginalised developers, Tara explores how creative resilience, strategic thinking, cultural leadership and your love of games are key to long-term success, no matter your size or stage.
Whether you’re an indie founder navigating your first fundraise or a veteran rethinking your team’s future, this session is a call to build intentionally, play in the sandbox and break the rules.
Session Takeaway
- How resourceful, experimental thinking can guide studio strategy today
- What sustainable, inclusive studios look like in practice
- Where the real funding opportunities are - and how to access them
- Why inclusion is a competitive advantage in an unstable industry
- Practical frameworks for lean hiring, long-term KPIs, and community driven development
Session speakers
