5th December, London

PLEASE REFER TO WWW.FUNDINGSUMMIT.CO.UK for all up-to-date details about this event.

Funding & Investment for Casual Games, MMOs & Virtual Worlds

In the current credit crisis, one sure thing is that entertainment and new media platforms, especially games and virtual worlds - will outperform many other sectors in terms of market reach and sales. Witness this with the recent increase in sales at retail and online - and the massive injection of VC funding into Virtual Worlds over the last 12 months.

Over the last year the key areas receiving funding are online networked games and virtual worlds, whilst the new - and extended family market genre grows on the wave of green & sustainable casual games, interactive quiz shows and personal improvement titles.

PROGRAMME

1.30 - 2pm: Data and Trends. Focus on the Growth and Opportunity in Casual Online Games, MMOs and Virtual Worlds. Nick Parker, Parker Consulting - leading market analyst and consultant

• Consolidation and convergence: What are the latest trends in the games and interactive entertainment sector?
• How will these trends affect the activity in M&A? In investment?
• How will these trends impact the games and interactive entertainment community?
• What are the key drivers of growth in developed and emerging markets?
• What lies in store for the games and interactive entertainment sector? Who will lead consolidation and convergence?
  

2 - 2.40pm: Early Stage Public & Private Support, Finance & Funding
Jon Kingsbury, NESTA and Sian Brereton, Technology Strategy Board (TSB) join early stage investors on the panel.

About TSB: Among other activities, the TSB invests in projects involving business and researchers working together to deliver successful new technology-based products and services. Over 700 CR&D projects have received investment since 2004, amounting to over £1 billion.

• What they are
• How they work
• How to access them

2.40 – 4.10pm (including break): Financing Growth

1. Company Structure & Legal Perspective- Jeff Meek, French Duncan

2. The Venture Capitalist Perspective - Nenad Marovac, DN Capital; Mauro Pretolani, TLcom Capital LLP and Paul Fisher, Advent Venture Partners join other leading VC firms, together with Panel Chairman Andrew Romans, General Partner, The Founders' Club & Georgetown Venture Partners

• How has the economic downturn affected VC investing?
• What are the key criteria entrepreneurs should expect to attract Series A funding?
• What business models will attract VC investment in Casual Online Games, MMOs & Virtual Worlds?
• What are the typical capital requirements and time frames for exits for this sector?
• What are the dynamics and complexities for Series B and C rounds in today’s new environment?
• What is the current trend in valuations and what are the key criteria driving valuations for both investments and exits?
• What returns is the VC asset class delivering to its investors?
• What changes can we expect in the VC landscape in Europe and globally?
  

4.10- 5.10pm: Financing Growth: The Developers' & IP Owner Perspective - Case studies and panel discussion.

Participants include: Mirko Caspar, Metaversum; Philipp Bouteiller, sMeet; Gobion Rowlands, Red Redemption; Ian Hetherington; Ian Livingstone, Eidos; Daniel James, Three Rings (tbc)

• Drivers of Investment
• Demographics
• Business and revenue models
• Role of advertising for valuation
• Impact of media tie-ins

Followed by Panel Q&A

5.10– 5.30pm: Closing Panel

Programme subject to change