Panelists have been confirmed for the Investor Lunch on 21st September which is being sponsored by XR Stories. The event will include two panels, a light lunch with plenty of time to ask questions and network with key investors and experts in the areas of investment, commercialisation and acquisition in the games industry. Game Republic members have free access to the event, but places are limited, and over half of the tickets have already gone.
As well as UK Games Fund attending, the panel will include:
Spike Laurie, Partner at Hiro Capital. Spike is a games industry veteran with experience building esports production and business infrastructure across three continents and driving large, multi million dollar Esports revenue pipelines. During his four years at ESL, the world’s largest Esports company, he held positions as Global Vice President of Publisher Relations, Managing Director UK and Managing Director Brazil. Prior to ESL he worked for Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment overseeing their global Esports strategy and looking after the retention and engagement of all games for the EMEA market. Spike was formerly co-Chair of the UK Interactive Entertainment’s Esports sub group. Spike regularly plays competitive games online and has been playing Counter Strike since 2000. Spike leads many of Hiro’s games and esports investments. The Hiro team have co-founded and angeled over £9bn worth of some extraordinary games, sports and tech companies including Sumo Digital, Games Workshop, Eidos, Playdemic to name a few.
Lauren Hunter, Producer at Square Enix Collective. Square Enix Collective is a division of Square Enix Ltd, based in London, UK, but working with development partners all around the world. Since 2014 they have provided a range of services to indie teams, including community and crowdfunding support and a range of publishing services. Today, they focus exclusively on investing into teams and games, working with developers to get their games distributed digitally to the widest audience possible, supporting and mentoring them through the process of completing and releasing their treasured creations. As well as investment, they also take care of all QA and submission-related work and a range of other practical services over the game’s lifetime.
Simon Iwaniszak, Studio Director at Red Kite Games. With over 17 years of industry experience Simon has spent the last 11 years running the multi-award-winning development studio, Red Kite Games. Founded by Simon in early 2012, Red Kite is now part of the Sumo Digital family of studios. Having built a reputation for delivering a high-quality service creating AAA PC/console games across varying genres, Red Kite are supporting multiple world-class publishing partners. Before Red Kite, Simon started his career at Rockstar working on incredible franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. (interview here)
Ian Jarvis is a High Growth & Entrepreneurs Business Manager of Barclays. Ian has worked at Barclays for + 20 years in the Business Banking, supporting a wide range of UK businesses. For the past 4 years Ian has been part of the High Growth & Entrepreneurs specialist team, working with businesses that are looking to scale and grow rapidly. Ian works particularly with Games and Creative businesses, identifying opportunities where Barclays can support their growth with banking and beyond.
Laura Harper who is a leading advisor to the Creative Industries – IP & Media & Entertainment at Lewis Silkin. Laura works with global leading edge businesses, UK mid-sized companies, scale-ups and individuals. An experienced commercial intellectual property (IP) lawyer advising on copyright, trade mark, design right, patent and confidential information law matters. Recognised as a specialist advisor to businesses in the creative industries and digital sector and has significant knowledge and experience of working with those businesses and individuals which operate within both sectors. Expert in the drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts and provides pragmatic legal advice. Laura has been recognised by Chambers & Partners; and The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual and recently as one of Game Republic’s Northern Lights (interview here).
To book your place visit this link. If you are a member of Game Republic please note your tickets are FREE and if you have not got the free code please email us as you should have received a message in your in-box.
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