Games London is fast-tracking the return of its market-leading B2B events to give global investors a chance to meet games creators this summer – after the global crisis sparked fresh interest in games as an investment-worthy pastime.
A brand-new event, the Summer Business Hub will run on Wednesday 15 July & Thursday 16 July and digitally bring together games developers, publishers, investors and other interactive entertainment companies.
Games London’s Summer Business Hub follows on from the success of its 2020 London Games Festival, which ran in March and April and was one of the first entirely online events responding to the global COVID-19 crisis. Two key London Games Festival events, the Business Hub and the Game Finance Market, generated nearly £12m in business leads for 400 participating games businesses from nearly 40 countries.
July’s event will put a special focus on introducing new investors to the games sector, with a number of first-time games funders set to attend. The resilience and popularity of video games and interactive entertainment during the global lockdown has sparked international interest in this culturally impactful and lucrative creative sector – a recent survey of global investors by Games London suggests that three quarters expect games investment levels to increase or stay the same over the next 12 months.
Over the two days games creators from across London, UK and beyond will be matched with attending investors to meet via video call pitches. Games London is also inviting service companies and freelancers who can help studios finish production of their games in unusual business circumstances, while also once again offering up a suite of experts to provide free advice sessions. More information can be found a https://games.london/ourevents/summer-business-hub/
Games London is backed by the Mayor of London with funding of £1.2m over three years and seeks to make London the games capital of the world. It is an initiative from Film London, the capital’s screen industries agency, and video games trade body Ukie (The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment).
Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of Film London and the British Film Commission, said: “COVID-19 changed the game plan for everyone, but for the video games sector, that fortunately hasn’t held us back. The shift to an online-only London Games Festival in March was met with immense support. We want this Summer Business Hub to build on that, bringing even more of London and the UK’s games creator and developer talent in contact with first-time funders and seasoned producers alike. The games sector has a really exciting role to play in our capital’s ongoing cultural and economic success. I’m thrilled Games London can continue to innovate and pioneer, nurturing and championing our exceptional creative talent in this way.”
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, said: “Games businesses have proven remarkably resilient during these challenging times, but it’s essential they maintain access to crucial sources of funding to keep going and growing. Introducing new investors to the opportunities in our industry at the Games London Summer Business Hub will help do this, playing a key role in cementing the UK as the best place to make and sell games in the world.”
Games London has become a key driver for global business in the capital’s games sector through its Festival and trade missions – since 2016 it has created over 560 jobs for London through its work connecting games studios with funders and investors.
Electric Noir is one of the latest companies to benefit from Games London’s commitment to supporting London-based games studios. The studio behind the BAFTA-nominated Dead Man’s Phone has been a participant in both London Games Festival and Games London activities and recently closed a £500,000 pre-seed investment round.
Electric Noir CEO Nihal Tharoor said: “Since joining the games industry in 2017, Games London have been an invaluable asset to our emerging start-up – providing us with opportunities that have led us to the biggest global investors and to national press coverage. We have benefited from all their industry events and initiatives – the Games Finance Market, fam trip, Ensemble, and Slush delegation. We can in fact trace the roots of our VC round all the way back to being invited on the outbound mission to Helsinki in 2018.”
The Summer Business Hub is the first in a new timetable of activity from Games London for the next 12 months as it builds towards spring’s London Games Festival 2021 – dates and themes for which are due to be announced later this year.
