Game Republic will be hosting a special Investment Panel and lunchtime mixer too as part of its Official Partnership with Climb 2025 – the UK’s Festival of Business Growth, that attracts thousands of founders and hundreds of investors. The partnership has ensured that Game Republic members have been able to access a full day pass for 2nd July that will include access to masterclasses, speaker sessions, networking and the expo. The event forms part of Game Republic events for 2025 supported by Official Partners Red Kite Games, Barclays Games and Creative and Xsolla and the lunchtime mixer is being sponsored by Leadership is a Skill.
Joining the Game Republic panel will be:
Spike Laurie from Hiro Capital
Professional investor and games industry veteran with experience building esports production and business infrastructure across three continents. Partner at Hiro Capital.
Laura Harper from Lewis Silkin
A leading advisor to the creative industries and innovation sector, specialising in intellectual property, media, and entertainment law.
Recognised by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500, she provides practical legal advice on the creation, protection, and commercialisation of IP, with deep experience across copyright, trademarks, patents, and commercial contracts.
Laura works with global businesses, UK scale-ups, and individuals in the creative and digital sectors.
Simon Barratt from Cooperative Innovations
Initially as a programmer, Simon has worked in the games industry for 26 years and has run development studios for 20 years, covering many roles across management, creative and technical direction, business development, design and more.
Simon is the co-founder of JECO (offering automated optimisation solutions for software developers) and the co-founder/CEO of game studio Cooperative Innovations (developing games, virtual worlds and related technologies).
He is also the longest serving Ukie Trade Association board member and a proud ambassador for charity SpecialEffect.
Andy Coley head of Leadership Is A Skill.
Andy Coley is a leadership development expert, keynote speaker, and coach, helping leaders in tech, gaming, and creative industries build stronger, more effective teams. He is the author of Leadership Is a Skill and co-organiser of TEDxNorthernQuarter.
Jamie Sefton MD of Game Republic who will be chairing the panel said “We are pleased to be bringing this panel together and highlighting why investors should consider games and how studios can secure investment – and the event will bring fantastic networking opportunities to our members who are seeking investment with over 400 investors set to attend”
Climb 25 features five stages with prominent leaders, including Jennifer Byrne (Digital Future Consulting), Kathryn Eastwood (EY Foundation), and Jon Coker (Eka Ventures). Attendees can also participate in 50 masterclasses, investor speed networking, and simulation games.
The event will include:
Five main stages featuring influential leaders and expert voices
60+ hands-on workshops and roundtables sparking real dialogue and actionable insights
A buzzing expo zone – not your typical grab-a-pen-and-go setup, but a space for real interaction, innovation, and connection
250+ high-impact speakers from across a range of different industries
1,800+ startups and scaleups shaping the future
3,000+ delegates coming together to connect, collaborate, and grow
Jamie added “We are really excited to be bringing this opportunity to our members in 2025 and look forward to seeing them at the event!”
The events form part of the Game Republic events programme supported by Official Partners Red Kite Games, Barclays Games and Creative and Xsolla.
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