How to Get Your Indie Game Funded and Published | Peter Kojesta, Exis Games
In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Peter Kojesta, Founder of Exis Games. Peter shares how the publishing and funding landscape is evolving for indie developers and what studios need to know to successfully launch games in 2025 and beyond. We’ll explore the new requirements for getting a game published, the different types of publishers—from service-based to VC-backed—and what venture capital firms are really looking for in game investments. Peter also walks us through the development journey of *Dragonhold* and the lessons Exis Games learned along the way. If you’re an indie dev looking to secure funding, find the right publishing partner, or understand the business side of modern game launches, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Follow Peter Kojesta and Exis Games: X: https://x.com/Exisinteractive LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkojesta/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExisInteractive/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exisinteractive/ #IndieGameBusiness #ExisGames #IndieDev #GamePublishing #GameFunding #Dragonhold
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How Games Bring Hope to Kids | April Stallings, Make-A-Wish International
In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by April Stallings, Charitable Gaming Program Manager at Make-A-Wish International. April shares how the power of games is helping grant life-changing wishes for children battling critical illnesses around the world. Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish has granted more than 615,000 wishes in nearly 50 countries. Every 25 seconds a child is diagnosed with a critical illness, and a wish provides hope, joy, and resilience—helping kids face their toughest battles. Gaming is often a vital lifeline for wish children, keeping them connected to friends and family while offering distraction and relief during hospital stays. With gaming-related wishes growing, Make-A-Wish is launching the Infinite Wishes program to give the games industry a unique way to support children when they need it most. Follow Make-A-Wish International and April Stallings: X: https://x.com/MakeAWishIntl LinkedIn (April Stallings): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilstallings/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/makeawishintl Instagram: https://instagram.com/makeawishintl #IndieGameBusiness #MakeAWish #GamingForGood #GameIndustry #Charity
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How Indies Can Scale with Global Development | Brad Hendricks
In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Brad Hendricks, Founder and CEO of Blind Squirrel Games. Brad shares why globally distributed development is the foundation for scalability, sustainability, and long-term success in today’s turbulent industry. We’ll discuss how Blind Squirrel positioned itself to thrive during industry shifts, how distributed development helps prevent burnout, and how they balance client work with original IP creation. Brad also explains the challenges of unifying studio culture across regions like New Zealand and Colombia while celebrating each location’s unique strengths. With 15 years of experience, Brad brings actionable insights for both indies and large studios looking to adapt, scale, and sustain creative excellence. Follow Brad Hendricks: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradhendricks/ #IndieGameBusiness #GameDevelopment #BlindSquirrelGames #DistributedDevelopment #GameIndustry
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You Did What?! A Game Dev Legal Bingo Experience
Join attorney and game developer Veda Cruz for an interactive session where legal pitfalls take center stage—in bingo form! Each square represents a sketchy but all-too-common scenario that devs run into, like forgotten contracts, fuzzy ownership, or fan content gone rogue. As we play through the card, you’ll learn how to spot these legal traps early and handle them like a pro. Whether you're a solo dev or part of a growing team, this session will help you stay out of trouble and keep your game on track with way fewer headaches.
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Why Games as Platforms Are the Future | Alex Seropian
In this episode of IndieGameBusiness, we’re joined by Alex Seropian, CEO and Founder of Look North World. Alex shares lessons learned from launching UEFN experiences with Hasbro, Harmonix, Bandai Namco, and Twitch, and unpacks why the idea of games as platforms is more than just a passing trend. We’ll dive into the growing influence of Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha, the race to turn popular games into open platforms, and what success will look like in this new era. From cost scaling measures to optimal testing and release cadences, Alex explains why developers now have just 6 seconds to capture player attention. If you want to understand the gaming industry’s shift toward a platform economy—and how to adapt for a world where gamers choose games within games—this is a must-watch. Follow Alex Seropian and Look North World: X: https://x.com/steakbacon?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderseropian Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/looknorthworld/ #IndieGameBusiness #GamingIndustry #GamesAsPlatforms #GameDevelopment #UEFN
Candid conversations with veterans of all aspects of the business side of games. We firmly believe that great games from all developers need the support they deserve to succeed. This podcast exists to provide that support.
IndieGameBusiness® is produced by The Powell Group, a video game consulting firm specializing in business development, marketing, and licensing. Our CEO has been in the industry for 20 years and closed countless publishing and licensing deals. The Powell Group monitors over 3,500 game developers and 750+ publishers.
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