Practical BizDev Tips

Prospecting & Cold Outreach in the Games Industry

Kristian Kolvek, Tobias Sjögren, Lilia Gurova, Ivan Gradev and Andrii Lukianov

Prospecting: Where to Find New Leads

  • Conferences: GDC, Gamescom, Nordic Game
  • Online Platforms: LinkedIn, MeetToMatch
  • Job Boards: GameJobs.co
  • Competitor Research: Analyze partnerships
  • MobyGames: Credits for decision-makers

Research Before You Reach Out

  • Know your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile)
  • Research their projects and hiring trends
  • Engage with their LinkedIn content
  • Understand their market/investment climate

Cold Outreach Best Practices

  • Personalize every message
  • Be clear and concise
  • Show immediate value
  • Offer solutions, not generic services
  • Follow up with useful content (case studies, news)

Cold Outreach: What NOT to Do

  • No long, generic messages
  • Avoid automation or spammy AI-sounding messages
  • Don't ask for a meeting too early
  • Limit follow-ups (1-2 times in 2 weeks)
  • Contact the right role (do your research!)

Follow-Ups: Persistent, Not Pushy

  • Add value in every follow-up
  • Use different channels: LinkedIn, email, voice notes
  • Respect time and space
  • Humor works (when appropriate)

Online vs. Offline BD

  • Offline: Build trust & personal connection
  • Online: Maintain & scale relationships
  • Best results: Combine both approaches

Keys to Long-Term BD Success

  • Think long-term: focus on relationships
  • Be authentic
  • Help first, sell second
  • Honesty builds trust
  • Your reputation is your biggest asset

Keep Learning & Improving

  • Understand game dev challenges
  • Stay updated on market trends
  • Learn from rejections
  • Document meetings and feedback

Handling Rejections

  • Don't take it personally
  • Focus on reply rates, meetings, conversions
  • Celebrate small wins
  • Rejections today aren't 'no' forever

Key Takeaways

  • Conferences & Events are vital
  • Personalized outreach always wins
  • Follow-up with value, not noise
  • Be human, think long-term

Thank You!

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