The SpielFabrique accelerator program is the first and currently the only program of its kind in Germany. It supports startups and young companies in the gaming industry with a comprehensive mentoring program and a strong network of industry experts, investors, and renowned partners, including Ubisoft Blue Byte and ARTE France. The program aims to help game developers efficiently realize, finance, and market their projects.
In an interview with NRW.Global Business, Odile Limpach talks about SpielFabrique's vision, the opportunities for NRW as an international gaming location, the role of the accelerator program for young developers and the future challenges facing the industry.
SpielFabrique is the first accelerator for video game startups in Germany. What was the original idea behind its foundation and what is your vision?
When we founded SpielFabrique in 2016, our goal was to address a significant gap in the European gaming market. Many talented developers had great creative ideas, but they lacked access to funding, mentoring, and business know-how. Our vision – which remains unchanged – was to build a sustainable ecosystem that fosters creativity, entrepreneurship, and European collaboration in the games industry.
Our Co-Production Markets, organized with European partners, are an important part of this vision. These events allow studios from different countries to collaborate across borders, develop joint projects, and access new sources of funding.
Additionally, we are becoming more involved with other creative industries, such as film, animation, literature, and music. Our cross-creative industries programs bring together talent from various fields to develop new narrative formats and business models.
Mentoring, financing, networking, and marketing are all important aspects of your program. How are startups connected with the right network partners, and how does the mentoring program work?
We are committed to supporting studios in achieving long-term economic stability and growth through programs that integrate business expertise, financing, internationalization, and creative excellence. We promote cooperation across national borders because we believe that the European market can only be visible and competitive together. The European perspective is always at the forefront.
Our programs are individually designed. First, each studio undergoes a needs analysis to determine where the greatest challenges lie. Based on this analysis, we select mentors from our network.
Mentoring takes place both online and on-site. Throughout the year, we offer several workshops and boot camps, some of which are digital and some of which are on-site at our partner locations across Europe. These hands-on workshops combine strategic topics, such as financing strategies, IP management, and international expansion, with individual coaching sessions.
Our network includes more than 100 European experts in game design, financing, production, publishing, and law. We also regularly organize Publisher Connect and Investor Pitching events, where teams can present their projects to potential partners. These events often result in direct collaborations, co-productions, and financing. Our goal is to bridge the gap between creative vision and sustainable business model.
What potential does NRW have in the European and international gaming scene and how do young game developers benefit from this?
NRW is one of the most exciting locations for games in Europe. With strong hubs in Cologne and Düsseldorf, the leading international trade fair Gamescom, and a dense network of universities, funding institutions, and studios, it offers an exceptional environment for young companies.
Close cooperation between education, research, culture, and business creates an ecosystem that promotes creative talent while offering international connectivity. SpielFabrique has worked closely with regional partners, including the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, KölnBusiness, and the TH Köln, for years to provide targeted support for these talents. This is a great opportunity for young studios – they can benefit from local support and quickly establish contacts via our international network.
You organize formats such as the European Game Night and use Gamescom as a platform. How important are such events for making startups visible to investors and publishers?
Such formats are absolutely key. Visibility is often the deciding factor in the success of a young studio. The European Game Night and our Publisher Connect events provide spaces where developers, investors, and publishers can exchange idea in an equal setting. We bundle many of our activities at Gamescom, including pitches, panels, and networking events. For many studios, this is when they first gain international attention or form an important partnership. However, it's not just about business. These formats also strengthen the European gaming community by fostering exchange, trust, and long-term collaborations that extend well beyond individual deals.