official gamescom investor event

Pitch to 100+ gaming investors at gamescom 2026

If you are building a game studio or GameTech startup and want investor meetings at gamescom, this is the program. You apply, the jury reviews your company, and selected teams get pitch training and curated investor meetings in Cologne.

Apply as Startup Apply as Investor
Official gamescom page Official gamescom invest circle event page
27 August 2026 Cologne, during gamescom
100+ Active Investors
1:1 Curated Meetings
94% Pitch Training NPS
Free If You Are Accepted
How it works

The path from application to investor meetings

The process is simple: apply, get reviewed, prepare your pitch, then meet investors.

1

Application & Screening

Submit your pitch deck and business data through our secure portal. Our automated pre-screening checks for basic eligibility and data completeness.

2

Expert Jury Review

A hand-picked jury of gaming veterans and investors evaluates your innovation, team strength, and market potential. Only the best are invited to the next phase.

3

Professional Pitch Training

Accepted founders receive PIRATEx pitch training before gamescom. The program achieved a 94% Net Promoter Score in 2025 and helps teams sharpen the story they bring into investor meetings.

4

Investor Matchmaking

Meet interested investors 1:1 in Cologne, with curated digital matchmaking available when travel is not practical.

If you are selected

What you get

The program is built to help you show up ready and make better use of the investor room.

  • Pitch training before gamescom PIRATEx helps selected founders tighten story, positioning, and delivery before meetings begin.
  • Access to the event Accepted startups can join the program at gamescom and receive the relevant event access.
  • Curated investor conversations Meet active gaming investors through a process designed for more relevant 1:1 conversations.

In 2025, founders rated the pitch training with a 94% Net Promoter Score.

Explore pitch training View official event page

Frequently Asked Questions

The essentials for founders and investors who want to understand how the program works before they apply.

The event is specifically designed for early-stage gaming studios and GameTech startups (Pre-seed, Seed, Series A) looking for equity investment or project funding. We also welcome studios with established traction looking to scale.
Yes, for accepted startups, participation in GIC 2026 and access to the pitch training is free. Accepted startups also receive complementary tickets to gamescom.
Your application is reviewed by the team and jury. If your company moves forward, we contact you with the next steps for pitch training and investor matchmaking.
The program is built around on-site meetings in Cologne. When travel is not practical, curated digital matchmaking can still support relevant introductions.
Your deck is private. Only our vetted jury and manually approved investors can view it, and it is never made public.
The Investor Lookbook is a curated digital catalog of all accepted startups. It allows investors to review profiles, watch trailers, and view pitch decks ahead of the physical event in Cologne, facilitating more meaningful 1:1 meetings.