Investigation into the vanished funds associated with Jason Della Rocca featured in GDC Podcast episode 28
In the ever-evolving world of video game development, securing funding is a crucial yet challenging step for many independent studios. To help developers navigate this landscape, Jason Della Rocca, a game industry veteran and co-founder of Execution Labs, offers valuable insights on pitching to publishers and venture capitalists for game funding.
When approaching venture capitalists (VCs), Della Rocca advises developers to focus on the market potential and scalability of their game. Highlighting the Total Addressable Market (TAM), secret insights about the game industry, and potential for exponential growth or returns is essential. Demonstrating a large, executable market opportunity is key to capturing the interest of VCs, who prioritize the size of the outcome over the probability of success.
In addition, showcasing the team's expertise, track record, and unique position to succeed is vital. Presenting a practical and logical funding ask, detailing how funds will be allocated, and setting clear milestones is also essential. Providing any financial data or user metrics that validate demand or growth potential further aligns with VCs' analytical approach to investment.
When pitching to publishers, the focus shifts to the game's quality, uniqueness, and market fit. Developers should clearly convey the game's concept, unique selling points, and how it appeals to the publisher’s audience. A concise and visual pitch deck that explains gameplay, art style, target demographics, and business models is appreciated by publishers. Emphasizing how the publisher’s involvement will help bring the project to market successfully, including distribution strengths, marketing reach, and ongoing support, is also crucial.
Identifying game-dedicated funds for investment is another crucial aspect. Della Rocca recommends researching venture capital funds known for investing in gaming startups or digital entertainment. Engaging with game industry accelerators, incubators, or business development platforms can also provide connections to game-specific investors. Some funds are specifically dedicated to games and interactive media, and these tend to be smaller but more focused. Understanding the VC math and fund size is essential, as larger VC funds tend to focus on bigger rounds and later-stage investments, which might not be suitable for early-stage game developers.
In summary, tailoring pitches to VCs by emphasizing market scale, financials, and team strength, while with publishers, focusing on the game itself, its uniqueness, and market fit, is essential. To find game-dedicated funds, researching firms with a track record in gaming, engaging industry networks, and considering fund size relative to your project's stage and capital needs are crucial steps.
Della Rocca's insights on seeking money for game projects were discussed in a podcast episode on the GDC Podcast, which can be listened to on iTunes, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. He encourages developers to understand when to pitch to a venture capitalist instead of a publisher and to keep a record of investment stories and the leading investors to identify patterns. By following these tips, developers can increase their chances of securing the necessary funding for their game projects.
- Jason Della Rocca emphasizes the importance of demonstrating a game's market potential and scalability, as well as highlighting the Total Addressable Market (TAM) and any secret insights about the game industry, to capture the interest of venture capitalists (VCs), who prioritize the size of the outcome over the probability of success.
- In addition to showcasing the team's expertise and unique position to succeed, it's essential for developers to provide financial data or user metrics that validate demand or growth potential, as this aligns with VCs' analytical approach to investment.
