techlist.io
KREN
discord

Game On: Discord Is Backing the Next Generation of Dutch Gaming Founders (opens in new tab)

aigame-developmentcloud-gamingblockchaingame-enginereal-time-computedigital-distribution

Discord and Techleap are launching the Gaming Founders Circle to support five ambitious Dutch gaming companies through the end of 2026. The program aims to help founders scale by connecting them with peers, investors, industry networks, and Discord leadership. It reflects Discord’s broader view that gaming grows through strong relationships among developers, players, and business communities.

A New Support Program for Dutch Gaming

  • Discord is partnering with:
    • Techleap, which supports Dutch scaleups.
    • The Dutch Games Association, which provides connections to the local games industry.
  • The Netherlands is especially significant to Discord because it hosts the company’s European headquarters.
  • Discord says its platform offers developers direct access to players and real-time feedback:
    • More than 90% of Discord users play games.
    • Over 80 million users participate in more than 10,000 gaming communities.

The Five Founders in the Cohort

The first Gaming Founders Circle cohort represents a broad range of gaming technologies and business models:

  • VaultN: Digital distribution infrastructure used by publishers such as Bethesda, 2K, and Take-Two.
  • Poki: A self-funded web gaming platform with 90 million monthly players.
  • MAXYMUM: AI-powered tools for game design, recently validated at GDC.
  • YOM: Decentralized cloud gaming infrastructure combining blockchain and streaming.
  • Immens: A European game engine designed around AI and led by an experienced industry veteran.

Discord, Techleap, and the Dutch Games Association selected the companies jointly.

What Participants Receive

The program focuses on practical challenges faced by growing gaming companies, including:

  • Peer learning on hiring, fundraising, distribution, community building, and international expansion.
  • Investor access through Techleap’s Dutch and international network, particularly important as later-stage studio funding becomes more difficult.
  • Industry connections through Discord’s gaming ecosystem.

Program Milestones

  • The program runs through the end of 2026.
  • In October, participants will travel to San Francisco for:
    • A meeting with Discord leadership.
    • An investor dinner hosted by Techleap and Prince Constantijn.
  • The initiative concludes at the Dutch Games Awards in November.

The Gaming Founders Circle is intended to strengthen Dutch gaming by giving founders the relationships, knowledge, and capital connections needed to grow. Discord’s recommendation is clear: supporting individual companies while building stronger connections across the entire national games sector.