– 40 games business founders from underrepresented groups will be offered an exclusive series of workshops, mentoring and investor pitching events both in London and overseas
– Game Changer is delivered by Games London, which is responsible for the annual London Games Festival
– Programme funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda
Today we are launching an ambitious new programme to support video games business founders from under-represented backgrounds.
The new programme is called Game Changer and has opened its call for applications today, aiming to find 40 games business founders for its 2023 cohort.
Games Changer runs from August to December and is designed to help London video games SMEs transform their potential with investors and funders. The programme covers business training workshops, mentoring and pitch meetings. Plus at the end of the programme all participants will also be taken on an international trade mission to Slush in Helsinki, Finland to meet international investors.
Games London has received £638,927.92 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda, to deliver the programme. Game Changer will support 80 London businesses over two years, and will promote the UK capital’s games sector locally, nationally and internationally.
The wider Games London programme is supported by the Mayor of London, with a new funding partnership announced in October 2022. Games London is delivered by Film London, in association with Ukie, and is responsible for a variety of projects including the London Games Festival, which in April 2023 announced record-breaking attendance of over 58,000 people.
Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, Justine Simons OBE, said: “From Fall Guys to Football Manager, some of the biggest global games have been created in London. Game Changer will back 40 of our most exciting games business founders from underrepresented backgrounds to secure investment, hone their pitch, join trade missions and grow their businesses. This important programme will help to strengthen our position as a games capital, as we continue to build a fairer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “London has a vibrant games and creative technology sector – but funding and support for SMEs led by diverse founders is often in short supply, or non-existent. Game Changer will redress the balance with a dedicated programme of education, promotion, mentoring and exclusive investor engagement. We’ll build on the success of the London Games Festival and associated programmes like Ensemble and the Games Finance Market to deliver this over the next two years and help ‘level up’ businesses across the capital.”
The programme has opened for applications with founders from underrepresented groups leading or starting games businesses across the capital encouraged to apply. The full application form can be found at www.games.london/gamechanger/ The programme is also encouraging senior members of the games industry to sign up as mentors supporting the cohort.
All eligible participants will be enrolled into the free scheme at the end of the month with the programme then embarking on a schedule that includes:
i. Four months of workshops that increase participants’ commercial acumen;
ii. Concurrent mentorship as they upgrade their business plan;
Iii. Two concluding events (one in London and one overseas) dedicated to getting direct access to investors
More information can be found at www.games.london/gamechanger
Notes for editors:
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
