- Market runs 4-6 April 2017 as part of London Games Festival
- 60 games companies will meet 60 investors worth over £200m
- January training event introduced to help games companies perfect their pitch
The 2017 Games Finance Market – the UK’s only event connecting games creators with funders from around the world – is now open for applications from developers, start-ups, investors and publishers.
Running as part of the London Games Festival (30 March to 9 April), the Games Finance Market has doubled in capacity for 2017 and will be open to 60 games companies and 60 investors. The successful inaugural event created new business worth over £10m, cementing London’s reputation as a centre of excellence for the global games industry.
Games Finance Market 2017 will take place from 4–6 April 2017 and is organised by Games London, a partnership between the capital’s screen industries agency Film London and Ukie, the trade body for games and interactive entertainment in the UK, supported by the Mayor of London’s London Enterprise Panel. The three-year Games London programme aims to attract £35m of investment to London games businesses and create nearly 300 jobs in the capital via the Games Finance Market, the wider London Games Festival, plus inbound and outbound trade missions.
This year’s Games Finance Market will be bolstered by a brand new pre-event training programme, the two-day Pitch Bootcamp, which aims to take 30 games companies and ensure they are Market-ready. The Pitch Bootcamp is funded by Creative Skillset’s Skills Investment Fund. Taking place 26 and 27 January 2017 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, the Bootcamp will take 30 games company leaders through an intensive two-day training and business mentoring programme that covers games financing, investor engagement and pitching skills.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London is home to more than 500 games companies, making our city a real melting pot of cutting edge talent, creativity and innovation. The Games Finance Market gives global investors a first-hand glimpse of what our games industry can offer, connecting talent with the investment it needs to flourish. I’m delighted to support training initiatives like Games London’s Pitch Bootcamp, which is helping companies take their businesses to the next level, creating jobs and boosting London’s reputation as a world leader for technology.”
Details on how to apply to both events can be found below.
The Games Finance Market partners include Air New Zealand. For information about sponsorship for the Market or the wider London Games Festival, please contact Paul.Davies@filmlondon.org.uk or call +44 (0) 20 7613 7676
How to apply
PITCH BOOTCAMP
26 and 27 January, 2017
BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly
Games London’s Pitch Bootcamp is a new event that will provide UK games companies with an invaluable package of training and mentoring in the run-up to the Games Finance Market. The Bootcamp covers everything from understanding financial terms and funding in the context of the games sector, through to presenting the perfect pitch, all taught by leading experts and working professionals in games sector. Spaces are open for 30 games companies to take part. This scheme is funded by Creative Skillset’s Skills Investment Fund. Creative Skillset is the industry skills body for the Creative Industries.
To get an application form, contact roz.tuplin@games.london ASAP – the deadline to apply is 5pm on 9 January 2017.
GAMES FINANCE MARKET
4 to 6 April 2017
The Grange Hotel Tower Bridge
The Games Finance Market is open to games companies who are seeking to pitch projects to international financiers and potential business partners – and the companies that want to fund those projects. Last year’s Market attracted over 25 projects helped games companies secure finance and forge countless long-term business connections. 2017’s event is set to double in size, welcoming 60 games companies with 60 investors.
To apply, head to the online application site at http://gfm.i2ic.com. All applications are assessed and selected by a panel of games experts to ensure attending businesses are investor-ready and of a high standard. Deadline for all applications is 3 February 2017. Enquiries to Roz.Tuplin@games.london.
