A New Chapter for IndieGameBusiness®:
The IndieGameBusiness® community is entering its next phase, focused on deeper education, broader access, and long-term sustainability for indie developers worldwide.
In the first podcast episode of the year, Jay Powell sat down with Ash Cason to outline what’s next for IndieGameBusiness® and The Powell Group. What followed was a candid, detailed conversation about growth, lessons learned, and a major evolution in how IndieGameBusiness® serves the global game development community.
From restructuring flagship events to expanding free educational resources, IndieGameBusiness® is doubling down on its core mission: breaking down barriers, removing gatekeeping, and giving developers access to the same insights and connections typically locked behind expensive conferences.
Rethinking Events – A Smarter, More Accessible Format:
IndieGameBusiness® is restructuring its events to reduce conflicts, increase value, and improve the attendee experience.
One of the biggest announcements centered on a fundamental shift in how IndieGameBusiness® events are run. Instead of overlapping lectures and networking sessions, events will now follow a clearer structure: one full day of talks, followed by dedicated days for MeetToMatch networking.
This change directly addresses a common frustration among developers—being forced to choose between learning and networking. By separating these components, attendees can fully engage in both without missing critical opportunities.
The goal is simple: maximize value while minimizing stress, decision fatigue, and scheduling conflicts.
Introducing Competitive Pitching with Real Incentives:
A new pitching event adds tangible rewards while encouraging developers to refine their presentation skills.
A standout addition to the 2026 lineup is a competitive pitch event offering three $1,000 USD prizes. Unlike traditional pitch reviews, this event requires polished decks and live presentations, mirroring real-world pitching environments.
Awards will be given across multiple categories, such as best pitch deck, strongest presentation, and most anticipated game. Importantly, no single team can win all categories—ensuring broader recognition and opportunity.
Beyond the prizes, this event serves as high-impact practice, helping developers sharpen their pitch before meeting publishers and investors in the following days.
From Pitch to Partnership – A Clear Development Path:
Each event builds logically on the last, creating a structured roadmap for indie success.
Rather than isolated topics, IndieGameBusiness® events are now designed as a progression. After pitching fundamentals comes a session focused entirely on publisher relationships—how to find the right partners, negotiate effectively, and avoid common pitfalls.
Later sessions tackle storefront optimization, sales strategy, and long-term visibility. This “stepping ladder” approach reflects the real lifecycle of a game studio, helping developers focus on what matters most at each stage of growth.
It’s education with intention, not noise.
Save the date:
| Lectures – February 18th, 2026 | MeetToMatch – February 18th & 19th, 2026
| $0-$60 USD
| 9am – 5pm ET
| YouTube, Twitch, and LinkedIn
Free Deep Dives with High-Impact Knowledge:
Free, single-day deep dives provide focused learning without financial barriers.
In addition to multi-day sessions, IndieGameBusiness® will continue offering free deep dive events. These are designed to go deep on one topic—such as publishing partnerships or marketing strategies—without networking components or ticket costs.
By keeping these events free, IndieGameBusiness® ensures that developers at every stage, regardless of budget, can access expert knowledge that would otherwise be locked behind paywalls.
Masterclasses and the Battle Pass Model:
The new Battle Pass unlocks full access while simplifying participation.
A major operational improvement comes in the form of a Battle Pass. Instead of registering individually for each session, developers can unlock all IndieGameBusiness® sessions and masterclasses with a single purchase.
This includes guaranteed access to two premium masterclasses led by industry veterans, covering production workflows and community management fundamentals.
For busy developers, this removes friction and uncertainty—once you’re in, you’re in.
Year-Round Support Beyond Events:
IndieGameBusiness® continues to provide free weekly and monthly resources.
Events are only part of the ecosystem. IndieGameBusiness® also offers:
- Weekly pitch deck reviews inside Discord
- Monthly legal discussions with a game-focused attorney
- Live YouTube pitch reviews for public feedback
- Affordable one-on-one pitch consulting
These resources remain free or deeply discounted, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to accessibility and developer advocacy.
The Power of Community and Real Outcomes:
Success stories from publishing deals to studio acquisitions, prove the model works.
One of the most powerful moments in the conversation was the reflection on real outcomes. Over the years, IndieGameBusiness® has helped developers secure publishing deals, funding, jobs, and even acquisitions.
These aren’t abstract metrics. They’re real studios, real people, and real careers shaped by access to better information and stronger networks.
Hearing these stories remains one of the biggest motivators for the team.
Data That Tells a Bigger Story:
IndieGameBusiness® has grown into a global platform with measurable impact.
The numbers paint a clear picture of sustained growth:
- 471 podcast episodes
- Spotify : 50,793 plays, 6,171 hours, Streams & Downloads: 113.4k
- YouTube : 336.6k views, 59.3k hours watchtime, 8009 subscribers
- Over 10,500+ Discord members
- Nearly 10,000 active newsletter subscribers
- 9,986 event registrations
- 143 Decks reviewed between Discord and YouTube
- Social Media Reach of 17k+
What started as a small Twitch experiment has become one of the most trusted indie-focused business education platforms in the industry.
A Philosophy Rooted in Anti-Gatekeeping:
IndieGameBusiness® exists to remove barriers, not create them.
At its core, IndieGameBusiness® was founded out of frustration with inaccessible conferences and expensive passes that excluded the very developers who needed the information most.
By offering free streams, open Discord discussions, and transparent education, the platform challenges traditional industry gatekeeping. Knowledge should be shared, not hoarded.
That philosophy continues to guide every decision moving forward.
Looking Ahead – Growth with Purpose:
The future is about sustainability, feedback, and meaningful impact.
As IndieGameBusiness® looks ahead, the focus is not just growth for growth’s sake—but sustainable impact. Community feedback, topic requests, and real developer needs will continue to shape programming and content.
Whether through new event formats, expanded educational resources, or partnerships with organizations like Make-A-Wish, the mission remains clear: support developers, elevate voices, and make the game industry more accessible.
Anecdotes and Reflections:
IndieGameBusiness® is evolving—but its values remain unchanged.
What’s next for IndieGameBusiness® isn’t a departure from its roots—it’s a refinement. More structure, more clarity, more opportunity, and the same commitment to openness and community.
For indie developers navigating an increasingly crowded and complex industry, IndieGameBusiness® remains a steady, reliable resource—one built by developers, for developers.
And this next chapter is just getting started.
Want more insights like this?:
Join us for our IndieGameBusiness Sessions, taking place on February 18th from 9am – 5pm Eastern or hop into the IndieGameBusiness® Discord to connect with Jay, Ash, and other industry pros.
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