2nd Annual Funding & Investment Summit

Subscriptions, Freemium, Microtransactions & Virtual Goods

London, UK - 14 October, 2 - 5.30pm

• Sean Seton-Rogers, PROfounders Capital

• Natalie Tydeman, GMT Partners

• AndyTait, Pembridge Partners LLC

• Nenad Marovac, DN Capital

• Mauro Pretolani, TLcom Capital LLP

• Nicki Hattingh, Creative Arts Investment Network

• Paul Comben, AT New Media

• Andrew Romans, Georgetown Ventures

• Nic Brisbourne, DSJ Esprit

• David Bailey, Seven Arts Pictures

• Dorian Bloch, gfk Chart Track

• Nick Parker, Parker Consulting

• Gina Fegan, SEMN

• Joshua March, iPlatform

• Barry Hoffman, Independent with GamePoint & Ingress Europe

• Volker Hirsch, Blue Beck

• Nina Pustilnik

Following on from the highly successful 1st Funding & Investment Summit, this Summit, chaired by leading consultant and author: Guy Fraser-Sampson, extends the discussion to the wider issues of the emerging payment, revenue and distribution models for high-yield online, mobile (and console) businesses - and investigates the trends and value of media and film tie-ins.

• Meet leading VCs and Angel funders
• Network with your leading industry colleagues
• Learn about the markets attracting the lion's share of funding, and why

Hear answers to:

• Where is the money is being spent online? Where is the highest growth and yield? What are the drivers of consumer spending? What mix of platforms works?
• How is mobile is shaping up through iPhone and Android to add revenue and value?
• What can be learned from successful games and virtual world models?
• What trends are emerging for advertising revenues?

It is generally accepted that the outcome of this recession will impact business models across the board. In many markets, the changes will be permanent.

• What direction are the majors in media and film taking? How does that affect your business? With major changes in business and distribution models still underway, which will prevail?
• What funding is available and how do you access it?
• What are the key considerations that you need to take on board in your business plan to attract funding, given this upheaval?
• How will you inspire investors to fund your first or next round of funding?
• Where are the most lucrative opportunities in the market right now?
• Which apps have the best potential return on investment over the next 12 months?
• What factors are impacting revenues and value?
• What is the future of the 'free-to-play', 'free-to-access' model?
• Will micro-transactions over-take the advertising-supported revenue model? If so, where and how?
• Is user-generated content a curse to bottom-line revenues or a panacea to attracting communities through which you can monetise content?
• What models already exist for supporting browser-agnostic access cross-platform? How can this be monetised centrally?

PROGRAMME

Conference Chair: Guy Fraser-Sampson

2 - 2.10 Welcome from Guy Fraser-Sampson

2.10 - 3.00: Data and Trends - Speakers include: Nick Parker, Leading Games Analyst; David Bailey, Seven Arts Pictures and Dorian Bloch, Business Group Director at GfK Chart-Track

3.00 - 3.30: Early Stage Public & Private Support, Finance & Funding - Speakers include: Nicki Hattingh, Creative Arts Investment Network; AndyTait, Pembridge Partners LLC

3.30 - 4.OO - Networking Break

4.00 - 4.50: Financing Growth - The VC Perspective

The Venture Capitalist & Growth Fund Perspective - Chaired by Andy Tait, Pembridge Partners

• What is the story now in the economic downturn? How has it changed from December 2008?
• What are the key criteria entrepreneurs should expect to attract Series A funding?
• What business models will attract VC investment?
• 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?

VC panellists include: Sean Seton-Rogers, PROfounders Capital; Nenad Marovac, DN Capital & Mauro Pretolani, TLcom Capital LLP; Natalie Tydeman, GMT Partners; Andrew Romans, The Founder's Club and Nic Brisbourne, DFJ Esprit.

4.50 - 5.30: Financing Growth, Improving Revenues: The Developers' & IP Owner Perspective - Case studies and panel discussion - Chaired by Gina Fegan, South East Media Network

• Impact from media and film tie-ins to social media, games, music etc
• Drivers of Investment
• Demographics
• Business and revenue models
• Role of advertising for revenues and valuation

Speakers include:

• Tony Pearce, CEO, PlayerX - Earlier this year, Zed acquired market-leading mobile media company PlayerX, following significant funding since inception in 2004. Tony takes us through the process as to how PlayerX exited successfully and what the future revenue model will be for successful mobile businesses in the future.

• Paul Comben, AT New Media - How to use new media to launch and promote a new or classic IP and discover or rediscover a consumer audience; How to capture audience information and earn revenue by selling them merchandise or downloads; How to attract licensees, retailers, operators and other relevant third parties to invest in products and software based on your IP; How to be realistic about trying to get wider exposure through TV or movies; Pitfalls to avoid.

• Joshua March, iPlatform & Chair Facebook Developers Garage - iPlatform Ltd builds applications and social network technology for major blue chip clients and agencies, with campaigns this year for Ministry of Sound, Gumtree, Comic Relief, the Conservative Party, Moby and more.

• Volker Hirsch, Blue Beck - Volker has been through entries (MBO, acquisition, founding), growth and exits of game companies (developers, publishers and aggregators) from various perspectives: as entrepreneur, executive and advisor. His new venture focuses on social games across platforms (but starting with iPhone, smart phones and Facebook) and seeks monetization across the whole range of available channels. From his previous engagements with iWorld Group, Mforma/Hands-On Mobile and Connect 2 Media, he has vast experience with carrier-driven ecosystems, which allows him a very good overview of available revenue generators in the space.

• Barry Hoffman, Independant Consultant - Barry is excited to share his experiences on growing active niche and mass communities into profitable enterprises. His tools of choice are social network analytics, efficient data mining and market research, coaching instead of consulting, consistent program management, online events and setting up strong partner networks.

• Nina Pustilnik - Veteran of The City and Virtual Worlds platforms and brands, Nina will give us the view of the media landscape in respect to virtual worlds.
  

Followed by Panel Q&A

5.30 - 7pm - Networking drinks at a local hostelry

Programme and speakers subject to change.

PAST EVENTS

1st Funding & Investment Summit: 5 December, 2008: Casual Online Games, MMOs & Virtual Worlds

Sponsored by SEMN and Sheridans.

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 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 - 2.20pm: Spotlight on Media Tie-Ins. Robert Johnsson, Media Consultants Ltd

• How will TV help the online gaming segment to grow? Spots generating more revenue and value than normal advertising.
• Which marketing possibilities will it offer? Benefits to the Media groups?
• Possible exits? Case study.
• What are the big media corporations doing today?
• What types of games are the most attractive in combination with TV and gamers?
  

2.20 - 2.50pm: Early Stage Public & Private Support, Finance & Funding
Chaired by Gina Fegan, South East Media Network. Panelists include: Sian Brereton, Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and Andy Tait, Pembridge Partners LLP

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.

Sian will address the schemes available: Fast Track Projects, Feasibility Studies & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and for the first time introduce a new programme: "Accessing & Commercialising Content in a Digitally Networked Age".

Andy will talk through how Early Stage private equity funds work, in connection with Pembridge case studies.

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

2.50 – 3.05: Break

3.05 - 4.30pm: Financing Growth - The Legal and VC Perspective

1. Legal Perspective- Alex Chapman, Sheridans

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?
  

4.30 - 5.40pm: Financing Growth: The Developers' & IP Owner Perspective - Case studies and panel discussion.

Participants include: Jochen Hummel, Metaversum GmbH; Sebastian Funke, sMeet Communications GmbH; Gobion Rowlands, Red Redemption; Ian Livingstone, Eidos; Daniel James, Three Rings and Simon Jones, Games Jacket. Chaired by Andy Tait, Pembridge Partners LLP

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

Followed by Panel Q&A

Programme and speakers subject to change.