June 22, 2025 • 17 mins
Tell us what you thought of the episode and any topics you would like us to cover!
Every game developer knows the brutal sting of excitement followed by crushing disappointment when funding disappears at the last moment. That promising investor call, the enthusiastic publisher meeting—all ending with radio silence or a polite "not at this time" email. It's the industry's version of Lucy yanking away Charlie Brown's football just as he's about to kick.
This emotional whiplash isn't just frustrating—it threatens your studio's survival and your game's future. But what if you could transform these funding setbacks from catastrophic blows into manageable challenges? The path forward lies in understanding why investors pull back, creating strategies that minimize sudden reversals, and building resilience that keeps your team moving forward regardless of funding outcomes.
Successful funding strategies begin with clear-eyed preparation. Develop data-driven market analyses that demonstrate your understanding of comparable game launches. Build vertical slices that showcase core mechanics and responsive iteration. Create transparent financial models backed by conservative assumptions. Most critically, highlight your team's strengths—because investors bet on people first, ideas second. These foundational elements reduce the likelihood of last-minute pullbacks.
Beyond pitch preparation, funding resilience requires systematic approaches: creating diverse funding funnels with multiple prospects at each stage, documenting investor feedback in evolving playbooks, establishing emotional processing rituals after rejections, and exploring alternative funding sources from crowdfunding to strategic partnerships. When serious negotiations begin, maintain a collaborative mindset focused on win-win outcomes while clearly understanding your non-negotiables. And always keep development moving forward, even at reduced scope, to demonstrate execution under constraints.
Ready to transform your funding approach? Start by auditing your current funnel, launching a small crowdfunding test to validate interest, and scheduling a team reset session. The game industry's funding challenges won't disappear—but with these strategies, you'll develop the resilience to keep moving forward when the football inevitably gets pulled away. Your studio's future depends not on avoiding disappointment, but on bouncing back faster when it happens.
Join Our DISCORD!
Wishlist Shadow City Mysteries: A Clockwork Noir on Steam!
Pre-Order Shadow City Mysteries: The Roleplaying Game on Backerkit!
Link to my FREE ebook: 5 Heroic Leadership Skills
Music by: Joey the Mad Scientist
Hit subscribe/follow and be sure to check out: https://pressstartleadership.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Press Start Leadership.
Hey there, press Starters andwelcome to the Press Start
(00:23):
Leadership Podcast, the podcastabout game-changing leadership,
teaching you how to get the mostout of your product and
development team and become theleader you were meant to be
Leadership coaching and trainingfor the international game
industry professional.
Now let me introduce you toyour host, the man, the myth,
(00:46):
the legend, christopher Mifsud.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Hey there, press Starters, welcome back to
another awesome edition of thePress Start Leadership Podcast.
On this week's episode, we'llbe discussing when raising money
feels like Lucy and thefootball, tempering expectations
with investors and publishers.
How game developers cannavigate funding setbacks, build
(01:10):
strong pitches and sustain hopewith investors and publishers.
In the video game industry,securing funding can sometimes
feel like that infamous Peanutsgag Lucy holds the football,
promising to let you kick it,only to yank it away at the last
second.
You sprint up ready for liftoffand suddenly the ground
(01:32):
vanishes.
If you've pitched to video gameindustry investors or
negotiated with publishers, youknow this sinking feeling well.
Understanding how to managethese emotional highs and lows
feeling well.
Understanding how to managethese emotional highs and lows,
temper expectations and maintainmomentum is critical for
(01:55):
studios of every size.
In this podcast, we'll explorewhy raising money feels like
Lucy in the football and ourindustry context.
How to align your hope withrealistic outcomes when talking
to investors and publishers, andpractical, actionable steps to
craft pitches, buildrelationships and keep your
dreams alive, even when thefootball keeps disappearing.
The Lucy and the FootballAnalogy and Game Funding.
(02:16):
Charles Schultz's Peanut Stripfeatures Lucy Van Pelt offering
Charles Brown the chance to kicka football, only to snatch it
away at the last moment For gamedevelopers, investors and
publishers often play loosey andtheir checkbooks are the
disappearing football Earlypromises.
You pitch a prototype at aconference, an investor
(02:37):
expresses enthusiasm, talksabout term sheets and sets up a
follow-up.
Last-minute pullback when duediligence begins, suddenly
concerns arise Market risk, teamsize, ip strength and the
funding vanishes.
Emotional whiplash this cycleof hope and disappointment is
draining, yet it's all toocommon in the video game
industry.
Understanding this patternhelps you anticipate potential
(03:01):
setbacks and build resilience soyou can bounce back faster when
the football slips away.
Would funding feel so elusive?
High risk, high expectationsInvestors and publishers see
thousands of pitches each year.
Only a fraction meet their riskreturn threshold.
The high failure rate of gamesmakes them cautious, leading to
(03:22):
last-minute reversals.
Information asymmetry you knowyour project's nuances
intimately.
They do not.
Gaps in data, unprovenmechanics, untested markets
trigger new questions, causingthem to delay or withdraw.
Shifting priorities Publishersmight love your concept in
January, but shift focus to liveservices or mobile in June.
(03:43):
Suddenly, your football isn'tthe game they want to hold
anymore.
Tempering expectations, abalanced mindset To avoid
constant disappointment.
Adopt a balanced approach tofunding.
Hope with a plan.
Enthusiasm drives action, buthope alone won't secure a deal.
Pair optimism with structuredpreparation.
Multiple balls in the air.
(04:05):
Don't pin your future on asingle investor or publisher.
Cultivate several opportunitiesin parallel.
Vet early and often, instead ofassuming interest equals
commitment.
Ask direct questions abouttimelines, budgets and decision
criteria at every stage.
By tempering expectations, youreduce emotional swings and stay
focused on productiveactivities.
(04:26):
Actual steps we'll covershortly.
Building credible pitches thatstick.
Great pitches reduce thechances of the football
vanishing.
Here's how to craft themData-driven market analysis.
Research comparable gamelaunches, platforms, budgets,
time to market and revenuetrajectories.
Present a concise market mapshowing where your game fits.
(04:48):
Investors and publishers wantproof that you understand market
dynamics, minimizing perceivedrisk.
Clear prototype demonstrations.
Develop a vertical slice orplayable demo that highlights
core mechanics and art style.
Incorporate rapid iterationfrom playtest feedback.
A hands-on demo conveysconfidence in your critical
thinking and developmentpipeline, making the opportunity
(05:10):
more tangible.
Transparent financial modeling.
Provide a three-year financialforecast budgets, revenue, cash
flow, backed by conservativeassumptions and sensitivity
analysis.
When spreadsheets are crystalclear, the metaphorical football
looks less like a mirage andmore like a real asset.
Team and track record.
(05:30):
Highlight prior successfulprojects, relevant experience
and complementary skills.
If you lack a veteran, consideradding an industry advisor.
Investors bet on people, notideas.
A credible team reduces theirfear of a last-minute pullback.
Investors bet on people, notideas.
A credible team reduces theirfear of a last-minute pullback.
Nurturing relationships withinvestors and publishers.
Securing funding isn't aone-time pitch.
(05:51):
It's the start of an ongoingrelationship.
Regular, value-driven updates.
Send monthly newslettersdetailing milestone achievements
, playtest metrics and budgetburn rates.
Consistent communication buildstrust and reduces information
asymmetry, making it less likelythey'll yank the football out
at a critical moment.
Early alignment on expectationsIn initial meetings ask about
(06:14):
the preferred update frequency,acceptable burn rate and key
success metrics.
Clarity upfront preventsmisunderstandings later when
shifting expectations causefunding to vanish.
Invite to internal playtests.
Host quarterly in-studio demodays or virtual playtests where
backers can experience progressfirsthand.
Engaging investors andpublishers in the development
process deepens their investmentin your success, both
(06:36):
emotionally and financially.
Actual steps to keep hope alive.
Even the most logical leadersneed support when funding falls
through.
Here are practical steps tonavigate the emotional toll and
maintain momentum.
Step one create a fundingfunnel Just like a sales funnel.
Identify stages, lead, pitch,due diligence, term sheet, close
(06:57):
Track progress in a shared CRMor spreadsheet.
Aim to have three to fiveprospects in each stage.
Diversified pipeline reducesthe pain of a single rejection.
Step two establish an investorplaybook.
Document successful pitchtemplates, key data points and
Q&A responses After each meeting.
Capture feedback and updateinvestor playbook.
Document successful pitchtemplates, key data points and
Q&A responses After each meeting.
(07:18):
Capture feedback and update theplaybook.
Continuous refinement increaseshit rate over time.
Step three build an emotionalresilience routine.
Funding rejections sting.
Develop rituals to decompressteam retrospectives focusing on
lessons learned, peer-to-peersupport groups or brief
mindfulness sessions.
Allocate 15 minutes post-pitchfor personal reflection and team
(07:41):
check-ins.
A healthier emotional baselinekeeps your passion alive for the
next opportunity.
Step four leverage alternativefunding sources.
Don't rely solely ontraditional investors or
publishers.
Explore crowdfunding grants orstrategic partnerships, research
platforms like Kickstarter orgovernment art grants.
Shortlist two or three viablealternatives.
(08:03):
Additional funding channelsprovide more footballs to kick.
Win the hold'em, win thefold'em.
Knowing when to persist and whento pivot is essential.
Knowing when to persist andwhen to pivot is essential.
Persist if you've addressedidentified concerns, revised
your pitch with new data andstill see warm signals.
Fold if multiple backers citethe same core issues, such as
(08:29):
market size, ip conflicts,despite iterations.
Actionable strategy here.
Use a decision matrix evaluatingfactors like investor interest
level, project traction andrunway.
If the score falls below athreshold, reallocate resources
to alternative paths.
Measuring your fundingstrategy's health Track these
metrics to evaluate and adjustyour approach.
Pitch to term sheet rate.
(08:51):
Number of pitches versus actualterm sheets received Time and
funnel average days from initialoutreach to funding decision.
Alternative channelcontribution.
Percentage of budget fromnon-traditional sources.
Team morale index.
Quarterly anonymous surveys onconfidence and funding prospects
.
Pipeline health score.
(09:12):
Ratio of hot prospects.
High likelihood to totalprospects.
Deepening your investorconversations.
As you progress past initialpitches and into serious
negotiations, the dynamics shift.
Investors and publishers diginto finer details your revenue
model, team dynamics andlong-term vision.
Here's how to navigate thesecrucial conversations without
(09:35):
expecting Lucy to keep thefootball held up indefinitely.
Negotiation mindset,collaboration, not confrontation
.
Enter negotiations with awin-win philosophy.
Instead of viewing term sheetsas a zero-sum, prepare to ask
how can we structure this dealso both parties feel secure and
share upside?
A collaborative tone buildstrust.
(09:56):
If investors sense you'refixated on maximizing your cut
at their expense, they may yankback support.
Clarify non-negotiables andflex points Before each
negotiation.
List your absolute must-havesIP ownership, creative control
versus areas where you canconcede Marketing budget, split
milestone schedule.
This clarity prevents costlylast-minute compromises and
(10:20):
shows investors your prioritiesare rooted in logic and
foresight.
Use data to strengthen yourposition.
Arm yourself with real-timemetrics, early access,
engagement, demo playtimes,pre-order interest, so you
negotiate from evidence, notoptimism.
Demonstrating traction turnsabstract pitch promises into
concrete momentum, makinginvestors less likely to
(10:42):
withdraw at the finish line.
Sustaining momentum when dealsstall Even well-crafted
negotiations can stall.
Rather than letting your team'smorale fizzle, use these
strategies to keep progressalive.
Parallel tracks, developmentand fundraising.
Continue core developmentsprints even at reduced scope,
while fundraising Set a smallemergency scope that requires
(11:04):
minimal resources but maintainsforward motion.
Demonstrates to investors thatyou can execute under
constraints and reduce thefeeling of the project is on
hold.
Milestone barbell Big goals,small wins.
Structure your roadmap with amix of ambitious targets such as
beta launch and bite-sizedachievements.
(11:24):
Ui polish mechanic tweaks.
Publicize each small wininternally and externally.
Frequent wins sustains teamenergy and signal ongoing
progress to backers, reducingthe temptation to yank funding
when timelines slip.
Re-engage and re-validate Ifnegotiations stall for more than
30 days.
Reconnect with investors usingnew data or milestones.
(11:47):
Frame the update as are-validation check rather than
a desperate plea.
Keeps conversations warm anddemonstrates your proactive,
logical, problem-solvingapproach rather than simply
begging for money.
Emotional Resilience, keepingHope Alive.
Funding cycles can wreak havocon team morale.
Balancing realism with optimismis key to sustaining a healthy
(12:08):
studio culture.
Normalize the Pullback At yournext all-hands.
Acknowledge the peanuts analogyopenly.
Reinforce that near-misses areindustry staples, not personal
failures.
Sharing the common experienceof disappointing expectations
reduces shame and fosterssolidarity.
Institutionalize reflectionrituals.
After each funding outcome,positive or negative, hold a
(12:30):
brief reflect and reset session.
Discuss what went well, lessonslearned and next steps.
Converts emotional energy intoconcrete, actionable steps,
preventing morale dips fromlingering.
Celebrate non-financial wins.
Track and highlightachievements unrelated to
funding.
Press features community growth, prototype breakthroughs.
(12:51):
Keeps the team's spirit high byreminding everyone that success
has many dimensions beyond thebank balance.
Alternative Funding Pathwayswhen publishers and traditional
investors keep pulling thefootball, diversified funding
can keep your game movingforward.
Crowdfunding campaigns Plan aKickstarter or Indiegogo or
Backerkit with clear rewardtiers, polished campaign page
(13:14):
and a realistic funding goal.
Leverage your existingcommunity to build momentum.
Validates market interestdirectly and brings in capital
without ceding equity.
Government grants and taxcredits.
Research, regional grants fordigital arts or R&D.
Tax incentives.
Prepare concise grant proposalsemphasizing innovation and job
(13:34):
creation.
Non-dilutive funding bolstersbudgets and demonstrates
institutional support which canattract private backers.
Strategic partnerships Partnerwith middleware vendors,
platform holders or IP licensorsin exchange for reduced
licensing fees or co-marketingsupport Reduces upfront costs
and provides an in-kind valuethat preserves cash.
(13:55):
Runway.
Long-term strategies Settingyourself up for success For
sustainable growth embed fundingresilience into your studio's
strategic plan For sustainablegrowth.
Embed funding resilience intoyour studio's strategic plan.
Build a funding roadmap.
Map out anticipated fundingneeds against project phases
prototype production, launch,post-launch support.
Clear visibility on whenfunding is required and which
(14:22):
sources align best with eachphase reduces last-minute
scrambles.
Cultivate a funding network.
Maintain relationships with10-15 potential backers through
periodic check-ins, invitationsto demo days and personal
updates.
A warm network means fewer coldcalls and more predictable
funding dialogues.
(14:42):
Institutionalize pitchrefinement After each pitch
document feedback in a sharedpitch repository.
Regularly review and updateyour flagship deck, financial
model and demo.
Based on this cumulative wisdom.
Constant refinement leads tohigher conversion rates and less
painful football pulls.
Measuring your studio's fundinghealth.
To stay on top of yourfinancial fortitude, track these
KPIs regularly.
Funding conversion rate proposal.
(15:04):
The term sheet average pipelinetime weeks between pitch and
decision.
Diverse funding ratio.
Percentage of budget fromnon-traditional sources.
Runway months how many monthsof operation remain at current
burn rate.
Team sentiment score.
Quarterly surveys on confidenceand funding and project
viability.
Some final thoughts.
In the rollercoaster world ofgame funding, raising money
(15:27):
feels like loosing the footballfar too often.
But by tempering expectations,deploying actionable steps from
robust pitch materials anddiversified funding funnels to
emotional resilience routinesyou can keep your studio moving
forward, regardless of who holdsthe football next.
So what are your next moves?
Audit your funding funnel.
Ensure three to five activeprospects at every stage.
(15:50):
Launch a small crowdfundingtest.
Validate interests and gathervaluable player feedback.
Schedule a reflect and resetsession.
Normalize lessons learned andset fresh targets.
Hold on to hope, lean intologic and build the resilience
that turns every near miss intoa stepping stone towards your
game success.
All right, and that's thisweek's episode of press start
(16:13):
leadership podcast.
Thanks for listening and, asalways, thanks for being awesome
.
Outro Music.
Press Start Leadership.
Hey there, press Starters andwelcome to the Press Start
(00:23):
Leadership Podcast, the podcastabout game-changing leadership,
teaching you how to get the mostout of your product and
development team and become theleader you were meant to be
Leadership coaching and trainingfor the international game
industry professional.
Now let me introduce you toyour host, the man, the myth,
(00:46):
the legend, christopher Mifsud.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Hey there, press Starters, welcome back to
another awesome edition of thePress Start Leadership Podcast.
On this week's episode, we'llbe discussing when raising money
feels like Lucy and thefootball, tempering expectations
with investors and publishers.
How game developers cannavigate funding setbacks, build
(01:10):
strong pitches and sustain hopewith investors and publishers.
In the video game industry,securing funding can sometimes
feel like that infamous Peanutsgag Lucy holds the football,
promising to let you kick it,only to yank it away at the last
second.
You sprint up ready for liftoffand suddenly the ground
(01:32):
vanishes.
If you've pitched to video gameindustry investors or
negotiated with publishers, youknow this sinking feeling well.
Understanding how to managethese emotional highs and lows
feeling well.
Understanding how to managethese emotional highs and lows,
temper expectations and maintainmomentum is critical for
(01:55):
studios of every size.
In this podcast, we'll explorewhy raising money feels like
Lucy in the football and ourindustry context.
How to align your hope withrealistic outcomes when talking
to investors and publishers, andpractical, actionable steps to
craft pitches, buildrelationships and keep your
dreams alive, even when thefootball keeps disappearing.
The Lucy and the FootballAnalogy and Game Funding.
(02:16):
Charles Schultz's Peanut Stripfeatures Lucy Van Pelt offering
Charles Brown the chance to kicka football, only to snatch it
away at the last moment For gamedevelopers, investors and
publishers often play loosey andtheir checkbooks are the
disappearing football Earlypromises.
You pitch a prototype at aconference, an investor
(02:37):
expresses enthusiasm, talksabout term sheets and sets up a
follow-up.
Last-minute pullback when duediligence begins, suddenly
concerns arise Market risk, teamsize, ip strength and the
funding vanishes.
Emotional whiplash this cycleof hope and disappointment is
draining, yet it's all toocommon in the video game
industry.
Understanding this patternhelps you anticipate potential
(03:01):
setbacks and build resilience soyou can bounce back faster when
the football slips away.
Would funding feel so elusive?
High risk, high expectationsInvestors and publishers see
thousands of pitches each year.
Only a fraction meet their riskreturn threshold.
The high failure rate of gamesmakes them cautious, leading to
(03:22):
last-minute reversals.
Information asymmetry you knowyour project's nuances
intimately.
They do not.
Gaps in data, unprovenmechanics, untested markets
trigger new questions, causingthem to delay or withdraw.
Shifting priorities Publishersmight love your concept in
January, but shift focus to liveservices or mobile in June.
(03:43):
Suddenly, your football isn'tthe game they want to hold
anymore.
Tempering expectations, abalanced mindset To avoid
constant disappointment.
Adopt a balanced approach tofunding.
Hope with a plan.
Enthusiasm drives action, buthope alone won't secure a deal.
Pair optimism with structuredpreparation.
Multiple balls in the air.
(04:05):
Don't pin your future on asingle investor or publisher.
Cultivate several opportunitiesin parallel.
Vet early and often, instead ofassuming interest equals
commitment.
Ask direct questions abouttimelines, budgets and decision
criteria at every stage.
By tempering expectations, youreduce emotional swings and stay
focused on productiveactivities.
(04:26):
Actual steps we'll covershortly.
Building credible pitches thatstick.
Great pitches reduce thechances of the football
vanishing.
Here's how to craft themData-driven market analysis.
Research comparable gamelaunches, platforms, budgets,
time to market and revenuetrajectories.
Present a concise market mapshowing where your game fits.
(04:48):
Investors and publishers wantproof that you understand market
dynamics, minimizing perceivedrisk.
Clear prototype demonstrations.
Develop a vertical slice orplayable demo that highlights
core mechanics and art style.
Incorporate rapid iterationfrom playtest feedback.
A hands-on demo conveysconfidence in your critical
thinking and developmentpipeline, making the opportunity
(05:10):
more tangible.
Transparent financial modeling.
Provide a three-year financialforecast budgets, revenue, cash
flow, backed by conservativeassumptions and sensitivity
analysis.
When spreadsheets are crystalclear, the metaphorical football
looks less like a mirage andmore like a real asset.
Team and track record.
(05:30):
Highlight prior successfulprojects, relevant experience
and complementary skills.
If you lack a veteran, consideradding an industry advisor.
Investors bet on people, notideas.
A credible team reduces theirfear of a last-minute pullback.
Investors bet on people, notideas.
A credible team reduces theirfear of a last-minute pullback.
Nurturing relationships withinvestors and publishers.
Securing funding isn't aone-time pitch.
(05:51):
It's the start of an ongoingrelationship.
Regular, value-driven updates.
Send monthly newslettersdetailing milestone achievements
, playtest metrics and budgetburn rates.
Consistent communication buildstrust and reduces information
asymmetry, making it less likelythey'll yank the football out
at a critical moment.
Early alignment on expectationsIn initial meetings ask about
(06:14):
the preferred update frequency,acceptable burn rate and key
success metrics.
Clarity upfront preventsmisunderstandings later when
shifting expectations causefunding to vanish.
Invite to internal playtests.
Host quarterly in-studio demodays or virtual playtests where
backers can experience progressfirsthand.
Engaging investors andpublishers in the development
process deepens their investmentin your success, both
(06:36):
emotionally and financially.
Actual steps to keep hope alive.
Even the most logical leadersneed support when funding falls
through.
Here are practical steps tonavigate the emotional toll and
maintain momentum.
Step one create a fundingfunnel Just like a sales funnel.
Identify stages, lead, pitch,due diligence, term sheet, close
(06:57):
Track progress in a shared CRMor spreadsheet.
Aim to have three to fiveprospects in each stage.
Diversified pipeline reducesthe pain of a single rejection.
Step two establish an investorplaybook.
Document successful pitchtemplates, key data points and
Q&A responses After each meeting.
Capture feedback and updateinvestor playbook.
Document successful pitchtemplates, key data points and
Q&A responses After each meeting.
(07:18):
Capture feedback and update theplaybook.
Continuous refinement increaseshit rate over time.
Step three build an emotionalresilience routine.
Funding rejections sting.
Develop rituals to decompressteam retrospectives focusing on
lessons learned, peer-to-peersupport groups or brief
mindfulness sessions.
Allocate 15 minutes post-pitchfor personal reflection and team
(07:41):
check-ins.
A healthier emotional baselinekeeps your passion alive for the
next opportunity.
Step four leverage alternativefunding sources.
Don't rely solely ontraditional investors or
publishers.
Explore crowdfunding grants orstrategic partnerships, research
platforms like Kickstarter orgovernment art grants.
Shortlist two or three viablealternatives.
(08:03):
Additional funding channelsprovide more footballs to kick.
Win the hold'em, win thefold'em.
Knowing when to persist and whento pivot is essential.
Knowing when to persist andwhen to pivot is essential.
Persist if you've addressedidentified concerns, revised
your pitch with new data andstill see warm signals.
Fold if multiple backers citethe same core issues, such as
(08:29):
market size, ip conflicts,despite iterations.
Actionable strategy here.
Use a decision matrix evaluatingfactors like investor interest
level, project traction andrunway.
If the score falls below athreshold, reallocate resources
to alternative paths.
Measuring your fundingstrategy's health Track these
metrics to evaluate and adjustyour approach.
Pitch to term sheet rate.
(08:51):
Number of pitches versus actualterm sheets received Time and
funnel average days from initialoutreach to funding decision.
Alternative channelcontribution.
Percentage of budget fromnon-traditional sources.
Team morale index.
Quarterly anonymous surveys onconfidence and funding prospects
.
Pipeline health score.
(09:12):
Ratio of hot prospects.
High likelihood to totalprospects.
Deepening your investorconversations.
As you progress past initialpitches and into serious
negotiations, the dynamics shift.
Investors and publishers diginto finer details your revenue
model, team dynamics andlong-term vision.
Here's how to navigate thesecrucial conversations without
(09:35):
expecting Lucy to keep thefootball held up indefinitely.
Negotiation mindset,collaboration, not confrontation
.
Enter negotiations with awin-win philosophy.
Instead of viewing term sheetsas a zero-sum, prepare to ask
how can we structure this dealso both parties feel secure and
share upside?
A collaborative tone buildstrust.
(09:56):
If investors sense you'refixated on maximizing your cut
at their expense, they may yankback support.
Clarify non-negotiables andflex points Before each
negotiation.
List your absolute must-havesIP ownership, creative control
versus areas where you canconcede Marketing budget, split
milestone schedule.
This clarity prevents costlylast-minute compromises and
(10:20):
shows investors your prioritiesare rooted in logic and
foresight.
Use data to strengthen yourposition.
Arm yourself with real-timemetrics, early access,
engagement, demo playtimes,pre-order interest, so you
negotiate from evidence, notoptimism.
Demonstrating traction turnsabstract pitch promises into
concrete momentum, makinginvestors less likely to
(10:42):
withdraw at the finish line.
Sustaining momentum when dealsstall Even well-crafted
negotiations can stall.
Rather than letting your team'smorale fizzle, use these
strategies to keep progressalive.
Parallel tracks, developmentand fundraising.
Continue core developmentsprints even at reduced scope,
while fundraising Set a smallemergency scope that requires
(11:04):
minimal resources but maintainsforward motion.
Demonstrates to investors thatyou can execute under
constraints and reduce thefeeling of the project is on
hold.
Milestone barbell Big goals,small wins.
Structure your roadmap with amix of ambitious targets such as
beta launch and bite-sizedachievements.
(11:24):
Ui polish mechanic tweaks.
Publicize each small wininternally and externally.
Frequent wins sustains teamenergy and signal ongoing
progress to backers, reducingthe temptation to yank funding
when timelines slip.
Re-engage and re-validate Ifnegotiations stall for more than
30 days.
Reconnect with investors usingnew data or milestones.
(11:47):
Frame the update as are-validation check rather than
a desperate plea.
Keeps conversations warm anddemonstrates your proactive,
logical, problem-solvingapproach rather than simply
begging for money.
Emotional Resilience, keepingHope Alive.
Funding cycles can wreak havocon team morale.
Balancing realism with optimismis key to sustaining a healthy
(12:08):
studio culture.
Normalize the Pullback At yournext all-hands.
Acknowledge the peanuts analogyopenly.
Reinforce that near-misses areindustry staples, not personal
failures.
Sharing the common experienceof disappointing expectations
reduces shame and fosterssolidarity.
Institutionalize reflectionrituals.
After each funding outcome,positive or negative, hold a
(12:30):
brief reflect and reset session.
Discuss what went well, lessonslearned and next steps.
Converts emotional energy intoconcrete, actionable steps,
preventing morale dips fromlingering.
Celebrate non-financial wins.
Track and highlightachievements unrelated to
funding.
Press features community growth, prototype breakthroughs.
(12:51):
Keeps the team's spirit high byreminding everyone that success
has many dimensions beyond thebank balance.
Alternative Funding Pathwayswhen publishers and traditional
investors keep pulling thefootball, diversified funding
can keep your game movingforward.
Crowdfunding campaigns Plan aKickstarter or Indiegogo or
Backerkit with clear rewardtiers, polished campaign page
(13:14):
and a realistic funding goal.
Leverage your existingcommunity to build momentum.
Validates market interestdirectly and brings in capital
without ceding equity.
Government grants and taxcredits.
Research, regional grants fordigital arts or R&D.
Tax incentives.
Prepare concise grant proposalsemphasizing innovation and job
(13:34):
creation.
Non-dilutive funding bolstersbudgets and demonstrates
institutional support which canattract private backers.
Strategic partnerships Partnerwith middleware vendors,
platform holders or IP licensorsin exchange for reduced
licensing fees or co-marketingsupport Reduces upfront costs
and provides an in-kind valuethat preserves cash.
(13:55):
Runway.
Long-term strategies Settingyourself up for success For
sustainable growth embed fundingresilience into your studio's
strategic plan For sustainablegrowth.
Embed funding resilience intoyour studio's strategic plan.
Build a funding roadmap.
Map out anticipated fundingneeds against project phases
prototype production, launch,post-launch support.
Clear visibility on whenfunding is required and which
(14:22):
sources align best with eachphase reduces last-minute
scrambles.
Cultivate a funding network.
Maintain relationships with10-15 potential backers through
periodic check-ins, invitationsto demo days and personal
updates.
A warm network means fewer coldcalls and more predictable
funding dialogues.
(14:42):
Institutionalize pitchrefinement After each pitch
document feedback in a sharedpitch repository.
Regularly review and updateyour flagship deck, financial
model and demo.
Based on this cumulative wisdom.
Constant refinement leads tohigher conversion rates and less
painful football pulls.
Measuring your studio's fundinghealth.
To stay on top of yourfinancial fortitude, track these
KPIs regularly.
Funding conversion rate proposal.
(15:04):
The term sheet average pipelinetime weeks between pitch and
decision.
Diverse funding ratio.
Percentage of budget fromnon-traditional sources.
Runway months how many monthsof operation remain at current
burn rate.
Team sentiment score.
Quarterly surveys on confidenceand funding and project
viability.
Some final thoughts.
In the rollercoaster world ofgame funding, raising money
(15:27):
feels like loosing the footballfar too often.
But by tempering expectations,deploying actionable steps from
robust pitch materials anddiversified funding funnels to
emotional resilience routinesyou can keep your studio moving
forward, regardless of who holdsthe football next.
So what are your next moves?
Audit your funding funnel.
Ensure three to five activeprospects at every stage.
(15:50):
Launch a small crowdfundingtest.
Validate interests and gathervaluable player feedback.
Schedule a reflect and resetsession.
Normalize lessons learned andset fresh targets.
Hold on to hope, lean intologic and build the resilience
that turns every near miss intoa stepping stone towards your
game success.
All right, and that's thisweek's episode of press start
(16:13):
leadership podcast.
Thanks for listening and, asalways, thanks for being awesome
.
Outro Music.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!