Elan Lee
Elan Lee is co-creator and CEO of Exploding Kittens, the company behind Kickstarter's most successful card game. A former Xbox developer and pioneer of alternate reality games, he blends technology and storytelling. Lee also created Throw Throw Burrito and is based in Los Angeles.
Elan Lee's Bio
Elan Lee is the co-creator and CEO of Exploding Kittens, the company behind Kickstarter's most successful card game. The 2015 campaign raised nearly $9 million from 219,000 backers, and the game has sold over 60 million copies worldwide.
Lee graduated from RIT in 1998 with degrees in computer science, computer animation, and psychology, and interned at Industrial Light & Magic before Microsoft recruited him. At Microsoft Games Studio, he worked on the original Xbox and served on the Halo design team. Jordan Weisman moved him from program manager to design, saying, "you're one of the worst program managers I've ever seen, but I think you might be a good designer."
In 2002, Lee left Microsoft with Weisman to co-found 42 Entertainment and pioneer alternate reality games. Their debut, The Beast for A.I. Artificial Intelligence, won a Peabody Award. They followed it with the Halo 2 ARG. Lee returned to Microsoft in 2010 as Chief Design Officer at Xbox Entertainment Studios before departing for the final time in 2014.
Lee partnered with Matthew Inman and Shane Small to create Exploding Kittens in 2015. Bears vs. Babies followed in 2016, and they partnered with Asmodee for European distribution the same year. Throw Throw Burrito arrived in 2019. Asmodee acquired a 55% majority stake in December 2021. Exploding Kittens: The Board Game was named Toy of the Year in 2026, and Lee received RIT's Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Career Timeline
1998 — Graduated RIT at Rochester Institute of Technology
BS in Computer Science, Computer Animation, and Psychology
1998 — Intern at Industrial Light & Magic
Interned while at RIT, worked on visual effects for Titanic
1998 — Joined Microsoft Games Studio
Program manager on the original Xbox
2001 — Lead Designer, Halo at Microsoft
Served on the design team for Halo
2001 — Launched The Beast at 42 Entertainment / Microsoft
Executive Producer and Lead Designer for the A.I. ARG; won Peabody Award
2002 — Co-founded 42 Entertainment
Co-founded with Jordan Weisman to build alternate reality games
2004 — Worked on Halo 2 ARG at Microsoft / 42 Entertainment
Contractor on Halo 2 alternate reality game campaign
2010 — Chief Design Officer, Xbox Entertainment Studios at Microsoft
Led the Interactive Entertainment Portfolio
2015 — Co-founded Exploding Kittens at Exploding Kittens Inc.
Founded with Matthew Inman and Shane Small after leaving Microsoft
2015 — Exploding Kittens Kickstarter Launch
Campaign raised nearly $9 million from 219,000 backers, most-backed Kickstarter in history at the time
2021 — Asmodee acquired majority stake at Exploding Kittens
Asmodee purchased a 55% majority stake in Exploding Kittens
2026 — RIT Outstanding Alumnus Award
Named RIT's highest alumni honor recipient
