Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Kane.
Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been a tabletop RPG gamer and Dungeon Master for over 20 years, and Geek Tank Games really started from wanting better tools for my own table. Like a lot of DMs, I loved immersive encounters and visual gameplay, but traditional miniatures always came with tradeoffs (e.g. they were expensive, fragile, difficult to store, etc.), and could become a huge barrier for new players trying to get into the hobby.
Around 2018, I launched Geek Tank Games here in Austin with the idea of creating practical, affordable tabletop accessories that were actually designed by someone who actively played the game every week. Our first Kickstarter campaigns focused on premium tabletop tokens, and the response from the community was incredible. It showed me there was a large audience of players and DMs who wanted products that were durable, easy to organize, portable, and approachable for both veteran players and complete beginners.
From there, Geek Tank Games evolved into our GTG Minis line through a collaboration with Printable Heroes. He had created an amazing collection of fantasy miniature artwork, and together we realized we could combine that artwork with our manufacturing process to create something unique: full-color, durable tabletop minis that were affordable, waterproof, scratch-resistant, and easy to store in simple 3-ring binders.
What started as a passion project quickly grew into a much larger community than I ever expected. Our GTG Minis Kickstarter ended up being backed by nearly 4,000 people from all over the world, which was honestly surreal as someone who originally just wanted to make game night easier and more fun for my own group.
Today, Geek Tank Games is still very much rooted in that same philosophy: creating products that help people spend less time worrying about setup, storage, and cost, and more time actually enjoying the creativity and social connection that tabletop gaming brings. One of the coolest parts has been hearing from teachers, parents, and first-time Dungeon Masters who use our products to introduce new players to the hobby. That accessibility aspect has become a huge part of why I continue doing this.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not a smooth road, although I think that’s true for most creative businesses.
One of the biggest challenges early on was simply figuring out how to turn an idea into a physical product people could reliably receive. Designing products is the fun part, but manufacturing, shipping logistics, inventory management, customer service, and all the operational pieces behind the scenes are where things become very real very quickly. Kickstarter is amazing because it lets you validate an idea directly with the community, but it also creates a huge responsibility. Once thousands of people trust you with their support, you have to execute and deliver.
Another challenge was balancing affordability with quality. A core part of Geek Tank Games has always been making tabletop gaming more accessible, especially for newer players or Dungeon Masters who may not want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on traditional miniatures and terrain. We spent a lot of time refining materials and manufacturing processes so the products could still feel premium while remaining affordable.
The tabletop gaming space is also incredibly passionate, which is both a blessing and a challenge. Gamers care deeply about the hobby, and expectations are high. That pushes you to constantly improve products, artwork, organization systems, packaging, and customer experience.
Like many small businesses, we also dealt with supply chain disruptions and shipping challenges over the past several years. There were definitely stressful periods where costs increased dramatically and timelines became unpredictable. But in a strange way, those challenges forced us to become more resourceful and creative as a company.
I think the biggest lesson through all of it has been that community matters. A lot of people supported Geek Tank Games not just because of the products themselves, but because they could tell the company was built by someone who genuinely loved tabletop gaming and wanted to contribute something useful to the hobby.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Geek Tank Games?
Geek Tank Games is an Austin-based tabletop gaming company focused on creating affordable, durable, and easy-to-use accessories for tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. We specialize in full-color tabletop minis and terrain tokens that are designed to make game setup simpler, more portable, and more approachable for both experienced Dungeon Masters and brand-new players.
What really sets us apart is that our products were designed from the perspective of actual players who actively run tabletop games. Traditional miniatures can be expensive, fragile, difficult to paint, and hard to store. We wanted to create something that removed a lot of those barriers while still looking immersive and exciting on the table. Our minis are flexible, waterproof, scratch-resistant, ready to use out of the box, and designed to fit into simple 3-ring binders for organization and portability.
One thing I’m especially proud of is how accessible the products have become for newer players, teachers, families, and first-time Dungeon Masters. Over the years we’ve heard from so many customers who tell us Geek Tank Games helped them finally start running games because they no longer felt intimidated by the cost or complexity of building a tabletop setup.
I’m also really proud of the community support behind the brand. Our GTG Minis Kickstarter was backed by nearly 4,000 people around the world, which was an incredible moment for us as a small Austin-based company. A lot of that support came from word-of-mouth within the tabletop community, and I think that says a lot about how passionate and welcoming this hobby can be.
At the end of the day, Geek Tank Games has always been about helping people spend less time worrying about setup, storage, and expense…and more time enjoying storytelling, creativity, and game night with friends.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
One thing I wish I understood earlier is how important consistency and patience are when building something creative. In the beginning, it’s easy to focus only on the big milestones like a successful launch, sales numbers, social media growth, or getting attention online. But most small businesses are really built through years of steady work behind the scenes that nobody sees.
I’d also say it’s important to create something you genuinely care about and personally understand. Geek Tank Games came from being deeply involved in tabletop gaming for many years and wanting better tools for my own games. That made it much easier to connect authentically with customers because the products were solving real problems I had experienced myself as a Dungeon Master.
Another lesson is not to underestimate the operational side of things. A lot of people romanticize the creative part of starting a business, but fulfillment, customer service, manufacturing, inventory management, and communication are just as important as the product idea itself. Learning how to navigate those challenges is a huge part of growing sustainably.
And finally, don’t wait for everything to feel perfect before starting. A lot of Geek Tank Games was built through iteration, feedback from the community, and learning as we went. If you care about what you’re building and stay willing to improve over time, people can feel that authenticity.
Pricing:
- Individual GTG Mini Sets typically retail for around $17.99 and include large collections of full-color tabletop minis themed around different fantasy encounters and settings.
- Custom Storage Sheets designed for standard 3-ring binders retail for around $14.99 and help Dungeon Masters organize and transport their minis and terrain.
- Geek Tank Games products are designed as an affordable alternative to traditional tabletop miniatures, which can often cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to fully collect and paint.
- The minis are durable, flexible, waterproof, and spill-resistant, making them ideal for long game nights, travel, classrooms, and regular tabletop use.
- Most products are ready to use immediately out of the box. No painting, assembly, or glue required.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.geektankgames.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geek_tank_games/
- Twitter: https://x.com/geektankgames
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCLxnGuoYkw6CvTvH1IZexKg
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/geektankgames
