Old Scholar Business Shout-Out – GG Gaming Lounge

Welcome to our brand-new segment, Old Scholars Business Shout-Out – where we shine a spotlight on the incredible ventures run by our former students! From start-ups to side hustles and everything in between, this series is all about celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit of the St Mark’s alumni community and encouraging everyone to support local, support each other, and stay connected.

Say hello to your next go-to hangout spot – GG Gaming Lounge, the brainchild of Old Scholar Ibrahim Soliman (Class of 2015)! Whether you're into casual gaming, competitive matches, or just looking for a cool, laid-back space to chill with friends, Ibrahim’s GG Gaming Lounge is where it’s at.

Located right in the heart of the action, the GG Gaming Lounge offers a premium experience for gamers of all stripes – from console connoisseurs to e-Sports enthusiasts. With a passion for creating community and unforgettable experiences, Ibrahim has built more than just a place to game – he’s built a social hub for all things fun, friendly and a little bit fierce!

Discover more about Ibrahim's business and his journey to success below. Be sure to check it out, show some love, and support one of our own.

Tell us about your business – what do you do and what inspired you to start it?

GG Gaming Lounge is the largest gaming lounge in Perth. We provide high-end equipment, including 80 gaming PC's, 3 racing simulators and multiple consoles, including Xboxes, PlayStation, and the Nintendo Switch. We aim to provide our customers with an in-person, online gaming experience that is difficult to replicate at home to game with friends, with high-speed internet, a clean and spacious environment that elevates the social aspect of online gaming. We are also venturing into the competitive gaming scene, an area where Australia is falling behind compared to the rest of the world. This will allow local gamers to showcase their talents in competitive gaming tournaments and win cash prizes.

Competitive gaming has always been a hobby of mine, and it's something I enjoy doing with family and friends. My partners and I recognised that, when compared to the rest of the world, Australia and specifically Perth, had minimal spaces for people to play competitive online games in the same space, and the available places were few and far between. We were inspired to start this venture after attending another successful gaming lounge in Perth, which we enjoyed going to, and decided that this is something we could do with additions like racing simulators.

Can you share a key moment or breakthrough that helped shape your journey?

There was no specific breakthrough moment that I could refer to, but after years of saving, pursuing the means to own a business, building management skills, and identifying feasible industries and businesses, we took the opportunity to undertake this project. Gaming has become a hobby that, in this day and age, continues through our teenage years and becomes a source of entertainment for many people, and this was certainly true for my business partner and me. Building on the social and competitive aspects of this business was fundamental, as it would significantly limit our clientele. As social beings, we tend to connect over common points of interest or hobbies. This business would allow us to connect people who enjoy gaming with their friends online, but physically bring them together in one location and facilitate a better social experience.

What sets your business apart from others in your industry?

The gaming and eSports industry has grown significantly in the past two-three decades, yet more and more gaming lounges or internet cafes have closed down over the years, and this is likely due the incredible amount of capital necessary to establish and maintain a business like this, and overcoming the fact that gaming equipment is very readily available for individuals to enjoy in their own homes, not many attempt to build businesses like this anymore. Gaming lounges have become a niche in this industry; therefore, to capitalise, it's essential to provide people with reasons to visit a gaming lounge rather than enjoy gaming in the comfort of their own homes. What we aim to do with this business is revive the social aspect of gaming in a clean, high-speed environment, and more importantly, tap into the competitive side of this industry by creating and hosting gaming tournaments that allow people to showcase their gaming abilities and win prizes.

What’s one piece of advice that’s really stuck with you throughout your business journey?

Building a successful business is like building a house; it is vital to secure a strong foundation before looking to build up or expand. Without a strong foundation, no matter how big the company becomes, it is more likely to collapse when put under stress. If the foundation is flawed, structurally or strategically, it can cripple long-term stability. It is far more difficult and costly to rectify a poor foundation than it is to fix the building itself.

Do you have a special offer, product, or service you'd love our Old Scholars' community to know about?

We don't have any promotional offers available at the moment, but we recommend following us on social media, where we will announce all our future promotional offers, which are likely to coincide with school holidays.

Follow GG Gaming Lounge on Facebook, Instagram and website.

Got a business of your own? We’d love to give you a shout out too! Drop us a message - osa@stmarks.wa.edu.au - and let’s celebrate the amazing things our Old Scholars are building out in the world.