From scholarship student to Chief Architect, Tine Tepeh’s story at Comtrade Gaming is a true example of growth built on curiosity, dedication, and passion for technology. His path began with a Comtrade scholarship and a part-time role during his studies, continued through an exchange in Sweden, and evolved into a full-time journey that led him to become the Chief Architect of iCore, one of our core product groups. In this Team Talk, Tine reflects on his career milestones, international experience, and the balance between leading complex systems and enjoying life beyond the code.
1.Your journey with Comtrade Gaming started with a scholarship and a part-time role. How did it all begin?
My journey with Comtrade Gaming began in 2009 when I applied for summer school program. Back then, Comtrade was known as Hermes Softlab. Hermes was known as a state-of-the-art software company, sort of the “Slovenian Google”.
I was enjoying my time there, but I assumed it would be short-lived since summer school only lasted two weeks. I was wrong. The managers selected a few of us as high-potential candidates to be shortlisted for future part-time roles.
Soon after, I received an email from someone who is now one of our most senior architects. They were looking for a developer for the Citrix ecosystem. The technology stack (C++, COM, Windows DNA, STL, ATL, MFC…) was a complete mystery to me, so I politely declined the offer, explaining I wasn't the right fit.
I was greeted with a surprising reply, they didn't care that I didn't know it yet - they wanted me to learn. Long story short, I started working that Monday. Even though my initial contributions felt small compared to the huge project I was on, they recognized my potential. They even offered me a scholarship - the last of its kind ever offered. I was in heaven, and that moment cemented my love for the company.
2. You also spent time abroad, on exchange in Sweden. How did that experience shape your professional and personal outlook?
There are moments in life that shape your entire outlook - experiences you dream about that stick with you forever and make you feel nostalgic for the remainder of your life. That was Sweden for me.
One of my current colleagues (Matej Ekart) and I were lucky enough to participate in the Erasmus program, which covered our tuition and travel. Originally, the goal was to write our master’s theses. However, once we arrived, we pivoted - we decided to immerse ourselves in the culture by learning Swedish and taking advanced IT courses to meet our credit requirements. Looking back now, this was probably the best decision we could have made.
Sweden was... different from Slovenia. People follow rules strictly. There is a profound sense of integrity - hypothetically, even a best friend might report you for cheating on an exam because fair play is valued more than anything else. There is a complete order to things, and everyone contributes to maintaining it.
Thanks to the solid foundation we gained at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (FERI) and the practical experience I had from working part-time at Comtrade, we felt a step ahead during the IT courses. This was quickly recognized by a professor who offered us a PhD scholarship. I declined. I realized I was already working at my dream company and preferred the dynamic work environment over another round of studying.
Looking back, that decision was a major crossroads. I sometimes wonder where I would be if I had stayed in Sweden, but I feel extremely lucky regarding where that decision has led me today.
3. You’ve grown from Junior Developer to Chief Architect, quite a journey! What were some of the key turning points along the way?
One of the defining factors of my career has been my thirst for knowledge. Whenever I had the opportunity, I chose to solve the hardest problems. I wasn’t interested in the easy wins. Stepping out of my comfort zone led to mistakes, but those mistakes brought experience, and that experience shaped who I am today.
However, none of this would have been possible without the people around me, the colleagues who helped me every step of the way. Everyone has their own story, their own problems to solve, and deadlines to meet. Everyone possesses knowledge that I don’t. And yet, they always found time to help whenever I needed it.
I’ve learned that your relationships with coworkers shape your career more than anything else. treating people with kindness makes their day better, which in turn makes your day better. I’ve realized that everyone around me is an expert in areas where I am not. Knowing who to turn to for that expertise is crucial to building a successful product.
4. For those outside the architecture team, iCore can sound abstract. How would you describe what makes it special?
iCore can seem abstract because, like a car engine, the most complex parts are hidden under the hood. It is the engine that powers everything we do. It’s a massive collection of architectural patterns and logic, written in hundreds of thousands of lines of code, hosted globally.
What makes it special is the scale. We have to balance extreme flexibility with absolute stability. Knowing how to combine these elements is what makes my job as an architect so interesting.
The stakes are incredibly high. As we introduce modern gamification and complex features to satisfy demanding customers, we have to move fast. That’s where the architecture team comes in. I might help set the direction, but the whole team is the engine that drives us forward. We have brilliant engineers who solve problems I couldn't solve alone. They take these complex abstract concepts and turn them into a reality that works for thousands of users. My job is only possible because I trust them to build the impossible every day.
5. Leading such a complex system must require balance. How do you recharge outside work?
For me, it’s about shifting gears. My job involves a lot of abstract thinking and meetings, so I need to step away from the screen to reset. I love running - it’s my form of meditation. It allows me to clear my head and process the day. On the flip side, I still enjoy gaming when I need to completely switch off my brain and just have fun.
But my biggest source of energy is my family. Spending time with my partner and my two kids reminds me why I do what I do. They ground me. When I’m with them, I’m not an Architect - I’m just a dad and a partner.
My advice to younger developers: Treat your career like a marathon, not a sprint. Early in my career, I wanted to solve every problem immediately, often at the expense of my sleep or free time. But I learned that you cannot write quality code or design resilient systems if you are burning out. Take care of your health and your relationships first. The code will still be there tomorrow, and you’ll be better equipped to solve it if you’re well-rested.
I mentioned earlier how much I relied on colleagues to help me grow. I want to keep that cycle going. So, if you see me in the office - whether I’m rushing to a meeting or just grabbing a coffee - don’t hesitate to say hi. I’m always up for a chat about architecture, running, or even if you just need someone to listen.
Tine’s journey from a curious student to Chief Architect reflects how true growth comes from a blend of curiosity, persistence, and empathy. His story reminds us that behind every line of code stands a person driven not only by logic but also by genuine care for others, colleagues, mentees, and family alike. Through his words, we see that success in technology isn’t just about mastering systems, but about understanding people, learning continuously, and finding balance along the way.