Gain the critical skills needed to build and grow your games business.
For Scotland-based early-stage and aspiring games leaders, the SGDA Games Accelerator delivers a bespoke, business-focused programme informed by real-world, practical experience. Attend nine in-person workshops and learn from industry experts, develop a playable game prototype, and receive advice and support from games mentors.
The free-to-attend Scottish Government-funded programme will run between November 2025 and March 2026, and culminates in you pitching your game and business plan to a cross-section of the industry at Games Talks Live. Held in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Glasgow, this is Scotland’s largest ongoing speaker and networking event, which sees regular attendance from publishers and investors.
Through expert-led workshops, team-based game development, and the shared experience of your cohort, you will build the capability and confidence needed to start and grow a successful games business.
What you will do:
- ATTEND NINE IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, focusing on key areas of games business development, including product development, pitching, financing, marketing, and more. Financial support for travel to the workshops is available, and workshops will be catered.
- DEVELOP A PLAYABLE PROTOTYPE to put what you learn into practice, within a team of accelerator peers.
- LEARN FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS sharing up-to-date knowledge informed by their real-world experience.
- PITCH YOUR GAME and a condensed business plan at Games Talks Live – Scotland’s largest recurring industry speaker and networking event (24-26 March 2026).
What you will gain:
- CRITICAL SKILLS needed to grow a business, pitch a game, and secure funding.
- ACCESS TO INDUSTRY MENTORS who will provide you with support and guidance along the way, strengthening your professional network.
- A CURATED PORTFOLIO of materials to support learning and business development, such as games-specific funding avenues, industry-recommended reading, and recordings of all workshops to refer back to.
- JOIN A COHORT of like-minded entrepreneurs and share learnings and experience as you progress through the accelerator and beyond.
- CONFIDENCE to develop and secure funding for the right game, made by the right team, using the right pitch.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be able to attend all nine on-site workshops and the Games Talks Live events. Workshop venue(s) TBC, to be located in the central belt. Workshops will be held between November 2025 and March 2026. The Games Talks Live events will be held on March 24th, 25th, and 26th in Edinburgh, Dundee, and Glasgow.
Applicants must be based in Scotland.
Places on the programme are limited. No more than two applicants from a single studio or team can be offered a place.
Applications close at 17:00 BST on Wednesday 15 October 2025. Successful applicants will be informed by Wednesday 22 October 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact accelerator@sgda.co.uk .
This programme is funded by the Scottish Government.
