When is the best time to pitch your game to investors?

Developing a video game isn’t a cheap endeavor. From the tools needed to bring your vision to life to marketing, many independent developers often need to turn to investors to fund at least some part of their project. While developers are encouraged to seek investors to back their game, there is such a thing as pitching too early.

You may be fully confident in your pitch, but if you try too soon into the development process, it may be overlooked. If you’re considering asking an outside party to invest in your game, you’ll need to time it just right.

Building an Effective Pitch

Do you think you’re ready to start pitching your game? Let’s first explore the “when” of indie game pitching.

When Should You Pitch?

The last thing you want to do is secure an investor meeting and hand over a piece of paper with a concept scrawled out. An idea is not investible, no matter how original it may be or how passionate you may be for it. Your investor pitch needs to be all about showing a proof of concept. If all you’re working with is a crude idea or even a small book of concept art, you’re not quite ready.

You need to have something to show off that indicates you not only have the means to develop a game but that you can flesh out a basic idea. So, you shouldn’t seek investors until you have a vertical slice of your game, or a gameplay segment built specifically as a proof-of-concept. It may never make it into the final build, but the vertical slice will entice potential investors.

By the time you have a vertical slice, you’ve already worked through some of the development process. This shows investors that you are serious about the project and that you have the skills and the tools needed.

There’s no timeline set in stone, but the moment you’re able to put together gameplay footage, do it.

What Does a Good Pitch Include?

The vertical slice suggests you have the skill to develop a game. Unfortunately, game development goes well beyond physical capabilities. Your pitch deck, or the completed pitch laid out in a slideshow or other consumable format, should answer virtually any question an investor could have.

A completed pitch deck should:

Introduce your team

Are you the only developer? Showcase all talents involved in the project.

Pinpoint your market

Ask yourself who will play your game. Is there a specific age demographic? Does it lean heavily into a specific genre and could it appeal to consumers? If you already have a community, detail how you secured it, how big it is, and where it is (e.g. Reddit or social media).

Draw comparisons

Not all video game investors will understand how your vision fits within the industry, so it’s best to draw comparisons between successful titles. This will prove that your concept and genre could see success.

Include a development plan

What platforms will the game be available on? If another party is involved in development or publishing, who are they? When did you start development, and when do you plan on finishing it?

Set milestones

How long will each phase of development take? Do you have a release schedule in mind? Let investors know that you have an organized plan and schedule.

Lay out a budget

Be thorough and avoid throwing out general numbers. Where will the bulk of funding go toward? Will you need just one investment, or could another be needed down the line for additional content? Don’t forget, your budget also includes marketing, product pricing, and revenue splits.

Rehearse Your Pitch, and Be Thorough

Pitching to an investor may be the most important moment in the lifespan of your video game. It could make or break your project, and be the determining factor on whether you can continue development. Take it seriously, and rehearse before you get in front of investors. When you pitch, include plenty of visual aids and distribute fact sheets that investors can review after your pitch.

Consider an Advisor

If you’re serious about seeking an investor, then you may want to get your game in front of Loopr Partners. Our program has assisted hundreds of studios on their journey to launch, and we can do the same for you.