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Make the most of Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki before you even get there

Put your name down now for a workshop, SpeedMatch, Mentor Cafe, game jam and free online meeting scheduler

Make the most of Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki before you even get there

You may have noticed that we’re getting quite giddy with excitement about Europe’s biggest mobile games industry event, Pocket Gamer Connects as it returns to Helsinki in just a few days for its fifth edition in FInland’s capital city.

We’re building up quite a head of steam as the countdown timer ticks down to zero; in the last couple of weeks, we’ve revealed the full speaker schedule for the 12 tracks featuring more than 120 word-class expert speakers.

We also shared the first wave of more than 600 companies that will attend the event so you can work out who you need to network with before you even set foot in the venue. 

Speaking of getting a head start on proceedings, here are a few ways you can make the most of Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki before you even set foot inside the show.

The fundamentals of pitching workshop

Looking for investment but never made a pitch in your life? Or have your previous pitches fallen on deaf ears and left your project in peril?

Join Walid O. El Cheikh, Pitching Coach from Aalto EE, for this 90-minute workshop that will show you how to design and adapt your pitch to different audiences. It will be useful to promote yourself as a games professional, sell your ideas to investors/publishers/partners and grow your business.

The workshop is dynamic and practical. You will learn by doing and most importantly by trying to find your own style and at your own pace. We will have several exercises to help you get the most in a short time.

While anyone attending Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki is eligible to attend this workshop from 2pm to 3:30pm on September 12th, there are only 20 places. If you want to overhaul your pitching prowess and secure the future of your business, make sure you’ve registered for the show and sign up for the workshop now

Pairing developers with publishers and investors

The SpeedMatch session enables shortlisted developers, publishers and investors to make initial contact during a dedicated stint of speed-date style meetings.

These short meets aren’t obviously designed for closing a deal, but enable an initial contact that can be followed up with a longer meeting during or after the conference. (Of course, everyone is still free to make as many meetings as they’d like using the standard Pitch & Match system – free to all Connects delegates.)

The SpeedMatch session on September 12th is from 11am to 1pm. It’s open to all registered attendees of Connects Helsinki. There’s no additional charge, but there is a filtering process. If you’re interested in taking part, simply fill in the application form when we contact you regarding this.

Not registered for Connects yet? Tsk. You can do so here.

One-to-one mentoring

There's still time to sign up for the IGDA Mentor Cafe sponsored by Game Analytics. Between 10am and 12pm on Tuesday, the cafe will pair developers with expert mentors for one-on-one sessions. You can find out more about it here.

Don’t hang about - space is limited and there are just days left to apply

Pocket Jam 3

Back for its third outing in Helsinki, the Pocket Jam is a two-day game jam that runs throughout Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki. Running once more in collaboration with Finnish Game Jam, teams will create a game from scratch, based on a theme that will be revealed on the day. Everyone taking part will get into the show free.

Teams that finish and upload their game by the deadline will have the chance to win a ticket to present their game at Pocket Gamer Connects London in January, as well as be considered as candidates for the Finnish Game Jam Awards 2019.

You can read more about the jam - and last year’s winners - here

Sign up now! Or if you have any further questions about Pocket Jam 3, please email aakoo@finnishgamejam.com.

Online meeting scheduler

To help you make contact with your dream prospects at the show, our online meeting scheduler is free to every single delegate, speaker, exhibitor and anyone taking part in pitches or jams. If they’re at the event, then you can arrange a meeting with them at a time and location of your choosing.

You’ll either have already received an email about this or you’ll get one soon if you’ve just registered. All you need to do is get stuck in!

Free for all

All these show features are free to registered delegates for this year’s Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki. If you haven’t already booked your tickets, you can do so here

Other than the online meeting scheduler, places are limited for all the other features listed here and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis - it’s a free-for-all when it’s free for all!

With just days to go to the show, we advise you avoid disappointment and sign up now.

Managing Editor

Steve is an award-winning editor and copywriter with nearly 25 years’ experience specialising in consumer technology and video games. He was part of a BAFTA nominated developer studio. In addition to editing TheVirtualReport.biz, Steve contributes to BeyondGames.biz, PocketGamer.biz, PCGamesInsider.biz and BlockchainGamer.biz, as well as creating marketing content for a range of SMEs and agencies.