elevate your game at sxsw sydney

elevate your game at sxsw sydney

elevate your game at sxsw sydney

games investment forum

Dive into the heart of business development and investment at SXSW Sydney from 17-19 October 2024. Our Investment Meet connects you with publishers, scouts, VCs, and other key investors for one-on-one matchmade sessions, offering invaluable feedback and growth opportunities for your projects. Alongside, join industry leaders and seasoned professionals in our Seminars & Workshops for deep dives into business strategies and investment insights.

Further, explore the latest trends and receive tailored advice in our Mentoring Sessions, designed to guide developers and industry personnel at every career level. Whether you’re seeking targeted investment, practical business development tools, or expert guidance, SXSW Sydney provides a comprehensive platform to advance your career and unlock new possibilities in the games industry.

Investment Meet

At SXSW Sydney, we’re dedicated to empowering creative communities with a strong focus on business development. This year, the SXSW Sydney Investment Meet, running from 17-19 October 2024, will feature match made sessions for investors, connecting studios and games with key industry players.

Top publishers and funding bodies, including Raw Fury, Null Games, and Team17, will participate in one-on-one meetings. Exclusive to Platinum and Games Badge Holders, the event will bring together international investors, VCs, and screen agencies to explore diverse and innovative projects.Alongside the Investment Meet, our seminars and workshops will offer valuable insights, tools, and networking opportunities for business development and investment in games.

Developers can apply through an Expression of Interest for 30-minute sessions with matched investors. Prospective investors and publishers can register at the following email: gamesfest@sxswsydney.com

Meet Our Investors

Akupara
Astra Logical Games
Critical Reflex
Fellow Traveller
Gamera Games
Ghostfire Gaming
IndieArk
Kwalee
Landfall Games
Might Kingdom
Null Games
PlaySide Publishing
PQube
Raw Fury
Skybound Games
Team17
Thermite
UltraPlayers
Whitethorn Games
WINGS Interactive

Seminars & Workshops

Join industry leaders, seasoned investors, and fellow creators at SXSW Sydney for dynamic sessions centred on business development and investment in games. These in-depth seminars and workshops are meticulously designed to offer valuable insights, advanced tools, and strategic connections. Dive deep into the world of game financing and development, and gain the expertise needed to turn your creative vision into reality. These opportunities are crafted to help you elevate your projects and build meaningful relationships within the industry.4o mini

Studio Strategy is a Survival Game

Despite record profits and an emerging transmedia boom, the games industry is falling apart. Industry consolidation and the production of projects "too big to fail" has exposed the medium to widespread risk rather than safety--and by all indications, this escalation will only become worse in the coming years. In this talk, Strange Scaffold studio head Xalavier Nelson Jr. (El Paso, Elsewhere, Life Eater, Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator) discusses how he's built a game studio to survive this investment climate--and how attendees are uniquely empowered to do the same with holistic production methodologies and a focus on long-term sustainability.

Who rated this? Challenging the need for classification in games

Are you a game developer frustrated by the outdated and cumbersome Australian games classification system? You're not alone. Join industry experts and fellow developers to delve into the intricacies of this challenging framework. Discover the historical reasons behind its complexities and learn practical strategies to navigate and work around its limitations. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and make your development process smoother and more efficient.

Understanding the investor mindset; a games publisher roundtable

Learn from leading indie publishers as they discuss the latest trends in the games industry.  Participate in focused conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing the ever changing landscape of games publishing. Join leaders from Kwalee, Raw Fury, Santa Ragione and Astra Logical as they deepdive into scouting, selection strategies and their unique publishing methods.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & MENTORING

Mentoring and career development are at the heart of SXSW Sydney’s industry programs. Dive into focused sessions led by trailblazers in the games industry and learn from their journeys through obstacles and challenges. Participate in exclusive, small-scale workshops to refine your skills as a developer or studio, and engage with experts to uncover strategies for successful game management and development.

How WINGS Use Project Financing to Empower Gender Marginalized Developers

This talk explores the setup and reasons behind the WINGS fund project financing model. What is the difference between working with a publisher or a game fund with project financing? What do you need to consider in your pitch? Regardless if you fit the criteria of WINGS this talk is relevant to everyone pitching their games.

How self-publishing works for indies

This session is for folks who want to gain a clear understanding of what it means to self-publish as an indie developer. We'll cover the basics of self-publishing, including the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing, and why developers choose to go indie. We'll focus on essential business-related aspects such as funding options available, platforms, and forming strategic partnerships.

Ratings: The Name of the Game – a short Master Class Overview in Classification

Have you wondered how a film or game receives a rating classification and consumer advice? Are you confused about the differences in Australia between classifying films, games and even certain publications? This one-hour Master Class Overview cannot teach you “everything”, but it will highlight some traps for novices, and offer you some food for thought as you create your next pitch deck, develop your next feature film script, or ponder what to include in the animated game play.

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2023 Highlights

Frequently asked questions

What is the SXSW Sydney Investment Meet?
The SXSW Sydney Investment Meet is an exclusive event held during the SXSW Sydney Games Festival. It offers matchmade sessions tailored for investors, providing targeted connections with game developers and creatives to fuel portfolio growth, network, develop pitching skills and secure funding opportunities.
How do developers apply for the Investment Meet?
To apply for the Investment Meet you must submit an Expression of Interest before 10 September 2024. If selected you will then be provided a schedule with your meetings prior to SXSW Sydney.
What do I need to bring with me?
Please come prepared to your meetings with a business plan, pitch deck and playable demo or prototype. It is important to come fully prepared and be ready to pitch your game to the investors. You must attend the event with either a Platinum or Games Badge to be able to access the event.
What is the SXSW Sydney Investment Meet?
The SXSW Sydney Investment Meet is an exclusive event held during the SXSW Sydney Games Festival. It offers matchmade sessions tailored for investors, providing targeted connections with game developers and creatives to fuel portfolio growth.
When and where will the SXSW Sydney Investment Meet take place?
The event will occur on 17-19 October 2024, coinciding with the SXSW Sydney Games Festival. It is exclusively available to Platinum and Games Badge Holders. It will take place in the Games Precinct.
Who can attend the SXSW Sydney Investment Meet?
The event is open to Platinum and Games Badge Holders attending SXSW Sydney in person. This exclusivity ensures that the matchmade sessions focus on meaningful networking and pitching opportunities.
Do I have to have a game in the showcase to attend the Investment Meet?
You do not need to have a game in the Games Showcase to attend the Investment Meet. We encourage developers who are seeking funding and have an available prototype or playable demo to apply.
How are developers matched with investors at the SXSW Sydney Investment Meet?
Developers are matched with appropriate scouts through an Expression of Interest process. This ensures that the matchmade sessions are tailored to the specific needs and interests of both parties.
What can I do if I do not get matched with the investor of my choice?
The Expression of Interest application process matches candidates with appropriate investors for their needs. If you would like to meet with additional publishers during the Games Festival, please attend the various networking and conference sessions in the schedule. We encourage impromptu meetings throughout the festival and there will be several locations suitable for meetings across the precinct.
What kind of projects can I apply with?
At our 2024 Investment Meet we are searching for games that have interesting gameplay mechanics, great game play loops or interesting design choices. Please bring a prototype or playable demo with a complete pitch deck including timelines, budget, marketing strategy and gameplay information.

Please contact the Games Team with any questions at gamesfest@sxswsydney.com