Our Speakers of IGDC 2024
Abhijeeth Swaminathan
Visai Games
Abhijeeth Swaminathan
Visai GamesAbhi (He/Him) is a game designer from Toronto who released his first game, Venba in 2023 and now runs a small studio called Visai games. He wants to tell intimate stories with interesting mechanics and hopes to see more games made from around the world with their own unique perspectives.
Abhimanyu Kumar
Naavik
Abhimanyu Kumar
NaavikAbhimanyu Kumar with 11+ years games industry experience with stints at names like Disney, Zynga, Flaregames, and Deconstructor of Fun. In 2019, started Naavik, which is a research and consulting firm with a mission to enable games industry professionals to master the business of gaming. Naavik has served 250+ clients since its inception. Our seasoned team of games industry professionals have worked with game developers, publishers, financial institutions, and various platforms and providers across PC/Console, Mobile, Web3, UGC and other emerging industry verticals. Our project work includes market research, due diligence, corporate strategy, product, design, economy, UI/UX, marketing and more. We also have a newsletter (Naavik Digest) and podcast (Naavik Gaming Podcast) — both of which have grown to become industry leading knowledge hubs.
Abhinav V Chokhavatia
Zatun
Abhinav V Chokhavatia
ZatunAbhinav Chokhavatia, CEO and Founder of Zatun, brings over two decades of experience in the video game industry. As an entrepreneur, Abhinav has consistently demonstrated the ability to bring companies to market rapidly and sustainably, infusing world-class creativity into his ventures. In 2007, Abhinav founded Zatun with a vision to create a globally recognized brand in the video game industry. He strategically leveraged partnerships and bootstrapped the company from the ground up, transforming Zatun into a name synonymous with innovation and creativity. Zatun creates its IPs and performs work-for-hire with a talented team that has collaborated on leading game titles for global studios across various platforms. Under Abhinav's visionary leadership, Zatun has developed over 20 games across diverse platforms, including PC, web, mobile, PlayStation, and VR. The studio's titles, such as the award-winning; Down and Out; and; Sniper Rust, have received numerous accolades and global recognition, showcasing Zatun's diverse game development capabilities.
Abraham K
Ayelet Studio
Abraham K
Ayelet StudioAbraham spearheads the artistic direction and strategic initiatives of the Ayelet Studio, with a passion for Indian history and a vision for innovation, pushing the boundaries of storytelling and creativity. Under Abraham's leadership, Unsung Empires continues to captivate audiences with its compelling narratives and rich visual landscapes.
Adnaan Ebrahim
Wooga
Adnaan Ebrahim
Wooga
I am a Production and Product director currently based in Berlin, Germany. I've worked on free-to-play and premium titles across all stages of development (Wooga, Unity, Wargaming, Zynga, Reliance & more). I specialise in building and scaling teams across disciplines, cultures, and countries. Having worked in India, the US, Finland, and Germany, I've learned how not to do things in new and exciting ways. I hope to share some of those learnings so that others might learn from my very expensive mistakes.
Akash Dhangar
AA Gaming
Akash Dhangar
AA GamingAkash Dhangar, a passionate entrepreneur leading AA Gaming, an esports and tech company based in Pune, India. My business journey started early—at 14, I launched my first venture, and by 16, I was running a distribution business for candy brands like Perfetti and Cadbury in my region. Over the years, I’ve developed a strong foundation in finance and technology, fueled by my MBA in Finance and my deep interest in creating innovative products.
Akash Menon
Tulsea
Akash Menon
TulseaAkash heads gaming at Tulsea, a strategic talent and content management company, based in Mumbai and Los Angeles, that represents India's leading content creators. Tulsea is focused on supporting and enabling established talent while simultaneously nurturing promising young talent to become the stars of tomorrow and ensuring that creators are valued and treated fairly. Tulsea's clients are engaged in high-quality content across feature films, digital series, and emerging new media including Bombay Begums, Bad Boy Billionaires, A Suitable Boy, Delhi Crime, Lipstick Under My Burkha, Made in Heaven, Masaba Masaba, Mirzapur, Masaan, NH10, Paatal Lok, Sacred Games, Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, Shershaah, Ghoul, Chintu Ka Birthday, Udta Punjab, Uri: The Surgical Strike, The Sky is Pink, Margarita with a Straw and many more. The vision for Tulsea’s Gaming division was born out of a shared drive to represent developers who are passionate about creating premium, narrative-driven games with unique stories. Tulsea is focused on empowering game developers through a curated network of publishers, investors, and creative talent to craft an elevated narrative. Tulsea works with talented developers including UnderDogs Studios, 505 Games, Outlier Games, Uniplay Digital and Niku Games, to name a few. Tulsea is also currently partnering on Bharatvarsha / The Age of Bharat, a AAA gaming franchise set in ancient India, uniting author Amish Tripathi and game producer Nouredine Abboud. In addition to talent and content management, Tulsea also provides consultancy services to select media investment funds looking to identify opportunities in emerging markets.
Aldo V
Small World Games
Aldo V
Small World GamesAldo V. began his career as a Flash game developer, creating immersive room escape games for the web. Transitioning to the Unity Engine, he worked as a freelancer and developed a Hotwheels VR game for Neopolis in Mexico. His expertise expanded into Roblox game development at Small World Games, where he contributed to popular titles like Speed Duels and Death Ball. Currently, he is exploring the potential of Unreal Engine for Fortnite (UEFN), aiming to elevate studio game development with his versatile experience across multiple platforms
Ali Alharbi
UMX Studio
Ali Alharbi
UMX Studio
He created games with his team in UMX Studio that 80 million people played. It started in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2014. Alharbi Working in UMX Studio as founder & CEO Today (2024), UMX Studio has +70 experts in game development with three successful titles and 2.7 million active players.
Álvaro Fernández García
Scopely
Álvaro Fernández García
ScopelyHello! My name is Álvaro Fernández García, I’m passionate about graphic design and art, and I’m lucky to work in the world of video games. I’ve been designing and creating for more than twenty years, and have been fortunate enough to make great friends and work with inspiring teams on world-famous IPs like Star Wars and Frozen. Currently, I'm working as a UI Lead in Monopoly Go! where I'm enjoying the best team that I've ever worked with. I love graphic design, I love UI design, and I love finding the best solution for users.
Amishi Agrawal
Lex Chambers
Amishi Agrawal
Lex ChambersAmishi brings over six years of extensive experience in General Corporate and Advisory services, with a focus on supporting leading companies and platforms across sectors such as sports, e-sports, fantasy sports, gaming, media and entertainment, and NFTs. She specializes in legal advisory and comprehensive documentation, contributing to sports leagues and its respective stakeholders, foundations, governing bodies, celebrities, celebrity management agencies, sportspersons, athletes, coaches, and other organizations involved in fantasy sports. Her expertise includes dealing with contractual advisory, media management, gaming and betting advisory, athlete representation, risk management, commercial rights exploitation, drafting of rules, regulations, and bylaws, as well as handling investigations, disciplinary proceedings, sports broadcasting. Prior to working at Lex Chambers, Amishi was working at law offices of Shri Gaurang Kanth (now Hon’ble Justice Gaurang Kanth of Calcutta High Court) and Shri Dhanendra Kumar (Former Chairman, Competition Commission of India, Former Executive Director, The World Bank). Education: B.B.A. LL.B (Hons.) from Raffles University, School of Law, Neemrana. Practice Areas: General Corporate & Advisory.
Anand Ramachandran
Hitwicket
Anand Ramachandran
HitwicketOver 20 years of experience leading creative teams in game development, interactive entertainment, and storytelling. Creative Director for the Disney Byju's Early Learn App, the world’s largest game-based learning app for children aged 6-8. Shipped 20+ mobile titles for Indian and global audiences and led live operations for major social games like Mafia Wars, Hidden Chronicles, and Yoville. Creative Director on Dadi vs Jellies, winner of Game of the Year at IGDC 2015. Extensive experience creating games, comics, animation, and viral content for high-profile Indian clients. Widely published columnist on videogames and cricket satire in leading Indian publications and a published author of children’s comics with Scholastic and Disney.
Anando Banerjee
Lakshya Digital
Anando Banerjee
Lakshya DigitalAnando Banerjee has a proven track record of building and managing successful teams. Over the last 25 years, had deep experience of managing people, projects and operations to deliver best-in-class services to global customers. Since 2004, he played a key role in growing Lakshya from an eight member novice team to a world class studio that has nearly 700 employees and studios in Gurgaon, Pune, Bangalore, Seattle and Tokyo ... with more being added. Lakshya creates art for some of the world’s top game titles for developers in the US, Japan and Europe and is a part of the Keywords Studios. I head the production and operations for the India studios, and he also on the board of directors.
Animesh Agarwal
S8UL and 8Bit Creatives
Animesh Agarwal
S8UL and 8Bit CreativesAnimesh Agarwal is the Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, as well as the founder of S8UL, the country’s leading Esports and gaming content organization. S8UL serves as the parent organization of IQOO SOUL, a leading Esports organization in India. Animesh dons several hats as an entrepreneur, an ex-pro gamer, a monster energy Esports athlete, and a gaming & luxury lifestyle content creator. As a pioneer in the Indian Gaming Industry, the 29-year-old has a deep understanding of the industry and is dedicated to shaping the business of Esports in India. His Company, 8Bit Creatives is also achieving remarkable milestones in content creation and brand collaborations within the gaming sector.
Anjali Sosale
WaterBridge Ventures
Anjali Sosale
WaterBridge VenturesAnjali Sosale is based in Bangalore and focuses on consumption and the gig economy. As a general partner at WaterBridge Ventures, she makes lead investments upto $3M at the seed stage, partnering early with founders and continuing to invest until Series C. WaterBridge's prominent consumer investments include Eloelo (A live video entertainment and gaming company), Chalo (Intra-city public mass mobility), Magicpin (India #1 savings app), CityMall (Tier 2 groceries via community).
Ankit Dhadda
Meta
Ankit Dhadda
MetaAnkit Dhadda is a digital marketing and product professional with over 15 years of experience across education, personal finance & media. He currently works in Meta focused on gaming and reality labs. Prior to Bloomberg|Quint, he was heading marketing for BigDecisions.com, a NewsCorp company in India and handling the digital portfolio for the education venture of the Times of India Group.
Ankit Garg
Zombie Art School
Ankit Garg
Zombie Art SchoolDriven by his passion for teaching and noticing a lack of depth in education, Ankit Garg founded Zombie Art School to equip students with specialized skills and discipline for excellence in 3D character art. Before this, Ankit also co-founded Little Red Zombies and served as Managing & Art Director for 12 years. With nearly two decades of experience in the 3D art industry, he has been the Art Director for over 40 game titles, including 25 AAA games such as Alan Wake 2, Ghost of Tsushima, Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, Diablo 2 Resurrected, and Horizon Forbidden West.
Anuj Mankar
Nautilus Mobile
Anuj Mankar
Nautilus MobileAnuj is the CEO and Co-founder of Nautilus Mobiles as well as the creator of the leading award[1]winning mobile franchise – “Real Cricket”. He has worked across a plethora of roles such Game Designer, Producer, Creative Director and worked with industry heavyweights such as Gameloft in the past. He is a graduate of the University of Lincoln, UK with a honours degree in Computer Games Production.
Anuj Tandon
JetSynthesys Pvt. Ltd.
Anuj Tandon
JetSynthesys Pvt. Ltd.
Anuj is a gaming investor and CEO in the Indian gaming industry. Anuj has been a founder of an acquired startup. CEO of a MNC gaming company and more. He has deployed the largest amount of capital ($135 Million) in India for Gaming, esports & interactive media/AI via Krafton.
Anul Agarwal
Momo Games
Anul Agarwal
Momo GamesAnul Agarwal has been building games for the past 5 years with various teams, but only recently did he go indie/solo as a game developer who now builds web games and publishes them on multiple platforms. He is also an active content creator on LinkedIn and YouTube, where he shares his journey of making money in game development and my experience with other developers. His approach to building games is slightly different, where his focus is on validating the game ideas very early and then shipping fast.
Anupriya Sinha Das
Nazara Technologies
Anupriya Sinha Das
Nazara TechnologiesMs. Anupriya Sinha Das currently serves as the Head of Corporate Development at Nazara Technologies, heads Mergers & Acquisitions and Investor Relations since joining in June 2022. She holds a B.Tech from MNNIT, Allahabad, and a PGDBM from XLRI Jamshedpur, with a rich career spanning over 13 years across Private Equity, Investment Banking, and Consumer Technology. Previously, Anupriya led the Corporate Strategy team at Pocket Aces, focusing on M&A and fundraising. Her seven-year tenure in private equity with General Atlantic and Everstone Capital saw her oversee investments exceeding USD 300 million across diverse sectors, notably consumer and technology.
Anurag Choudhary
Felicity Games
Anurag Choudhary
Felicity GamesAnurag, Felicity's founder and CEO, is a second-time entrepreneur and seasoned operator with over a decade of leadership experience in scaling $100M+ categories at Swiggy and Snapdeal. Before Felicity, he was building Wakao, a gamified short video app that grew to 30k DAU. The insights he gained from Wakao in user acquisition and product led growth have been invaluable in building Felicity, a casual game publisher from India for the global market.
Apurva Shah
Duality AI
Apurva Shah
Duality AI
He is co-founder and CEO of Duality AI, where the team’s vision is to leverage virtual worlds for solving real problems. Duality’s Falcon platform provides digital twin simulation for the design and development of safe, predictable, and resilient smart systems. Customers include robotics and AI teams such as DARPA, the US Army and several Fortune 100 companies. This endeavor draws on Apurva’s prior roles as head of creative technology and design systems at Capital One, visual effects supervisor and member of the technical brain trust at Pixar, and SVP of global technology at Rhythm & Hues Studios. He is adjunct professor in the interaction design program at CCA and covers emerging technology topics such as Metaverse Design and Designing for Trust. He is a strategic advisor to Mumbai based real time technology studio, Green Rain. His film credits include Ratatouille, Shrek, Finding Nemo, and Toy Story 3.
Arjun Balaram
Electronic Arts
Arjun Balaram
Electronic ArtsArjun, a versatile GM and operations leader, has held several product and business leadership roles throughout his career in video games and semiconductors. At Electronic Arts, he has led teams on many beloved franchises including The Sims, Battlefield, Plants vs Zombies, and Bejeweled with an emphasis on profitable growth through live services, distributed development, and business model transformations. While he is currently based in Seattle, he used to lead EA’s mobile studio Slingshot Games in Hyderabad, and is well versed with the talent, opportunities, and growth of the gaming industry in India.
Arvind Neelakantan
Epic Game
Arvind Neelakantan
Epic GameArvind Neelakantan is the Solutions Architect for Epic Games with over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry. He is a full stack game developer and specializes in providing technical direction to game studios. He has held significant positions at companies such as Unity Technologies, Disney India, and Nickelodeon. Arvind's expertise lies in driving innovation, overseeing game development, and providing technology leadership in the gaming industry.
Ashutosh Sharma
MPL
Ashutosh Sharma
MPLAshutosh is a seasoned business professional with almost 2 decades of experience, he has led digital partnerships across the ecosystem and has worked with companies including Google, Apple, Nokia, Samsung and Gameloft in the past. He is a gamer and is deeply invested in the Indian digital services ecosystem
Ashwin Haryani
Ampverse DMI
Ashwin Haryani
Ampverse DMIA history of remarkable achievements and exemplary leadership marks Ashwin's illustrious journey in the gaming and esports domain. Driven by his passion for gaming, Ashwin co-founded GamingMonk, an Esports Community Platform that was one of the first esports platforms that rapidly gained popularity among Indian Gamers. While Gaming Monk thrived under his leadership and later it was acquired by MPL—and after a brief period of business consultation Ashwin joined at the helm of Ampverse's India operations while Ampverse DMI rolled out the most ambitious College Rivals, India’s biggest ever collegiate IP. As a visionary entrepreneur and tech enthusiast, Ashwin is committed to propelling India to a forefront position in the global esports arena. He believes in leveraging his extensive knowledge and network to foster environments where gaming talent can grow and succeed.
Avinash Pandey
LILA Games
Avinash Pandey
LILA Games
Over 16 years of experience in game development & entrepreneurship. Co-Founded my first startup right after college in 2008. I have been building apps and games since the initial days of the app store back in 2009. Have helped build more than 100 apps and games including Ninjump Dash and Mask Gun which got more than 50M downloads individually. Always pushing to build more ambitious games out of India. Co-Founded LILA Games in 2020 where we are building a multiplayer mobile extraction shooter "Project BLACK". An open world shooter with unique game design and art style. We have built a full tech and rendering stack from scratch. Aiming to have high quality game play experience on high end devices but also support low end phones (already support phones of cost $100)
Benjamin Carcich
Valarin, Inc. & Building Better Games
Benjamin Carcich
Valarin, Inc. & Building Better GamesBenjamin Carcich started his career as a military officer before shifting into game dev at Riot Games working on League of Legends. He spent over 8 years there, starting in associate production roles and eventually advancing to director roles He left Riot to start a consultancy in 2020, realizing that his ability to change the industry through better leadership would be best realized independently. He’s been supporting individual producers, game studios, and publishers ever since. Ben spent time on League post-launch (2011-2017) and was on Valorant while it was in R&D. Ben is a certified co-active coach and official ICAgile trainer. He’s been teaching concepts around Agility, Production, and Game Development Leadership since 2015. He hosts the Building Better Games podcast and newsletter and has spoken at multiple events including GDC 2024.
Biplove Belwal
NukeBox Studios Pvt Ltd
Biplove Belwal
NukeBox Studios Pvt LtdBiplove is the founder and CEO of Nukebox Studios, which is India's top gaming studio- self-funded, profitable and acclaimed. Specializing in F2P, casual mobile games for women audiences globally, NBS has self-published hits like 'Food Truck Chef' (LTR $18M, so far) and has collaborated on AAA title with Nickelodeon on 'SpongeBob Krusty Kickoff' (LTR $38M, so far). Powered by a team of 25 passionate members, the full-stack studio has been winning global awards, including 'Game of the Year 2017' and 'Users Choice Award 2020' across 34+ countries. NBS has been showcasing Indian Talent at the World Stage in GDC-US, Gamescom Lat Am, Gamescom Koln and is about to launch some very exciting titles.
Bryce Johnson
Microsoft
Bryce Johnson
MicrosoftBryce is an inclusive designer for Microsoft Windows + Devices where he is devoted to ensuring Microsoft products are accessible. Bryce initiated and designed the Inclusive Tech Lab at Microsoft, which has now hosted over sixteen thousand visitors; it is a facility where people can explore how people with disabilities interact with Microsoft products and services. He strives to design systems of accessibility enhancement, like the Surface Adaptive Kit, across our devices. Bryce is one of the inventors of the Xbox Adaptive Controller and a proud member of the Microsoft Adaptive Accessories team.
Chaitanya Chinchlikar
Whistling Woods International
Chaitanya Chinchlikar
Whistling Woods InternationalChaitanya has had a multi-faceted 2-decade career in the Film, Media & Entertainment industry. He is currently at Whistling Woods International - India’s premier Film & Creative Arts institute, in the capacity of Vice President & Business Head. He also serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the institute and heads its Emerging Media initiatives. He has received several awards & much acclaim for his work, including the much-coveted SMPTE Excellence in Education Medal 2024. He currently serves on several public policy & innovation bodies - namely as CEO of India’s National Centre of Excellence for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics & Extended Reality (NCOE-AVGCXR), established by the Government of India and on the Executive Committee of India’s Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC).
Chirag “Tito” Morab
Ubisoft Montreal
Chirag “Tito” Morab
Ubisoft MontrealChirag Morab, also known as “Tito” is a Graphics Technical Director at Ubisoft Montreal. Originally from Bangalore, Tito’s foray into game development began in 2008, after which he moved to Canada to pursue his Master’s in Computer Games Technology. He has since worked in the industry at companies like Gameloft, Ludia/Jam City and Ubisoft to ship successful titles with world-renowned IPs including Jurassic World, Disney and Rainbow Six. Specializing in Graphics and Technical Art over the past 8 years, Tito has been pivotal in merging artistic vision with technical capabilities. He played an important part at Ludia, defining Tech-Art roles for the organization and leading rendering discussions with Unity’s enterprise support. A passionate community contributor, Tito frequently mentors upcoming game developers and participates in events like Gamedev.in’s Campfire. Outside of work, he enjoys dabbling with Shadertoy, geeking out about mechanical watches, and savoring fine gin!
Chirag Chopra
Lucid Labs
Chirag Chopra
Lucid LabsWith over a decade devoted to the gaming industry, Chirag Chopra heads an indie game studio named Lucid Labs based in India. Lucid Labs started in 2015 and quickly built up a reputation for quality and ingenuity based on its award-winning range of imaginative games, such as 'Possessions' on Apple Arcade and the newly launched UGC puzzler 'Bloom.' A desire to push the medium has earned him global recognition and accolades, including six 'Game of the Year' awards, a live featurette at WWDC Keynote, a '40-under-40' Achiever Award, and over a dozen nominations. Embracing the ethos of collective growth, Chirag also leads the Indian IGDA Chapter and finds joy in empowering the community through mentorship and initiatives.
Chirag Sanghani
Google Cloud India
Chirag Sanghani
Google Cloud IndiaChirag Sanghani is an accomplished technology leader with over two decades of experience in the tech industry. He currently leads Google Cloud's Media and Gaming business in India, where he is responsible for driving growth and innovation in the sector. He is passionate about helping businesses in Gaming leverage the power of technology to transform their operations and drive growth that includes, using AI/ML to create more immersive and personalized gaming experiences, automate game processes, and enhance decision-making for both players and developers. Leverage cloud technology for scalable, reliable, and cost-effective game development and hosting, improving efficiency and agility. Harness the power of player data to gain insights into player behavior, preferences, and trends, enabling the creation of new and improved
Chris Smith
BIGR Social
Chris Smith
BIGR SocialA 16-year veteran of the gaming & esports industry, Chris started as a semi-professional player and subsequently worked in every facet of the industry including PR & marketing, journalism, game commentary, player management and much more. He recently ran a global marketing agency from 2018-2022 which included running the world’s largest VR esports event in Miami among servicing client in gaming, esports, crypto and tech. Since this he co-founded an AI startup called BIGR Social that wholly automates social media for small business and joined LMTLSS, the world’s largest CS map maker with over 1.7 billion rounds played across published maps.
D. SRIDHAR BABU
Government of Telangana
D. SRIDHAR BABU
Government of TelanganaMr. D. Sridhar Babu is an Indian politician from Indian National Congress and is a member of the Telangana Assembly. He is a senior Minister in the Telangana Government holding the crucial portfolios of Information Technology, Electronics & Communication, Industry & Commerce and Legislative Affairs.
Damini Pawha
Appsoleut Games
Damini Pawha
Appsoleut GamesDamini, is the CEO and Co-Founder of Appsoleut Games, an independent mobile games studio that is passionate about vehicle based games and expertises in developing real-life driving simulation games with large 3D open worlds. With a focus on business development, collaborations and marketing, Damini has steered Appsoleut Games to reach millions of users, creating captivating gaming experiences that resonate globally. Her expertise has equipped her with a deep understanding of the industry’s dynamics and trends. Beyond her executive role, Damini is a dedicated advocate for advocate for gender diversity in gaming and helping increase female representation in gaming. As a Chapter Lead for Women In Gaming, an initiative by IGDC, she collaborates with other accomplished women in the field to open doors for aspiring female professionals. Her dedication to fostering inclusivity and empowering young women has led her to speak at numerous events and to mentor aspiring female talent, driving positive change for a more diverse future in the industry. Her efforts reflect her vision for a more diverse and inclusive gaming industry, where diverse voices and perspectives can thrive and innovate.
Dayanidhi M G
Electronic Arts
Dayanidhi M G
Electronic ArtsDayanidhi is a veteran in the gaming industry with 3xGM and 3xenterpreneural experience. He has built and led studios of 300+ people. In his long career in gaming, he has managed over 100 games of different sizes and genres. In his illustrious career in gaming, he has worked on and witnessed evolution of gaming making its debut on feature phones, iphone, android, Facebook etc. Right from porting of games on J2ME/BREW to AI/ML based games, he has got a ring side view and hands-on experience. In his current role, he leads a talented team of over 300 game crafters at Electronic Arts touching majority of the games in the portfolio of EA Mobile.
Deepak Choudhary
EVA Live
Deepak Choudhary
EVA LiveDeepak Choudhary, a serial entrepreneur and influential leader in India’s events and experiential industry, has over two decades of pioneering contributions. Known as the “IP Man of India,” he has been instrumental in creating industry-leading platforms and intellectual properties. Currently, as Founder and Managing Director of Eva Live, Deepak has built and nurtured major event IPs like Bollywood Music Project, Windmill Festival, and Social Nation. His production expertise spans live concerts and tours for top artists, both in India and the Middle East. Upcoming tours under Eva Live include Arijit Singh and Bryan Adams, further cementing his role as a key promoter of global entertainment in the region.
Deepen Parikh
Courtside Ventures
Deepen Parikh
Courtside Ventures
Deepen Parikh is a Partner at Courtside Ventures, one of the leading early-stage VC funds focused on gaming and sports. They are backed by several professional sports team owners, public corporations and industry executives. Since launching Courtside Ventures in 2016, they have invested in over 100+ companies globally. Though US-focused, Courtside has invested internationally in high-growth markets including India, Brazil, across Europe and parts of the MENA region. Select investments include The Athletic, StockX, Winzo, Eloelo, 100 Thieves and Beam. Sitting at the intersection of the rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and the broader sports, fitness technology industry, Deepen also serves an Independent Board Director at 24 Hour Fitness, one of the largest gym corporations in the US. Previously, Deepen was a Partner at Interplay Ventures, an early-stage technology incubator and investor, where he was part of launching/building 15+ companies and investing in another 12 companies. Deepen started his career as an Associate at UBS Financial Services. He recently relocated to Dubai with his wife and three children
Derek Ham
Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center
Derek Ham
Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology CenterDerek Ham is the Director of Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center. He is an award-winning VR director, design educator, and immersive storyteller. In his research, he continues to investigate both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology to find ways these tools can expand the way we work, play, and learn. His most notable projects “I Am A Man” and “Barnstormers: Determined to Win” both share a special focus on the use of virtual reality as a tool for the empathetic storytelling of African American history.
Devesh Mishra
Betide Studio
Devesh Mishra
Betide StudioDevesh Mishra is a game developer with over seven years of experience in Unreal Engine. As the founder of Betide Studio, Devesh and his team have developed a range of open-source tools and plugins, including the Steam Integration Kit, PlayFab Integration Kit, and EOS Integration Kit (EIK). Betide thus far has supported over 10,000 developers with their plugins, which have been used in more than 200 released projects. Devesh is passionate about advancing game development and supporting the developer community, and continues to work on new Unreal Engine projects at Betide.
Dr Anbuthambi B
L&T Edutech
Dr Anbuthambi B
L&T EdutechDr. B. Anbuthambi is a seasoned leader with 25+ years in Education, Skilling, EdTech, and Technology. Currently the Head of Strategy & Partnerships at L&T EduTech, he leads strategy, partnerships, marketing, and product incubation. As former President of ICT Academy, he transformed it into one of India’s largest PPP social enterprises focused on bridging the industry-academia skill gap. He has a Bachelor’s in Computer Application, an MBA, and a PG Diploma from XLRI, Jamshedpur, ranking third in his batch, along with a PhD in Management focused on employability skills. A recipient of the ‘Power to Empower’ award by NSDC and CII, Dr. Anbuthambi is recognized for fostering collaboration across Industry, Academia, and Government to cultivate talent. An active member of Governing and Academic Councils at prominent Indian institutions, he is also a published author and a sought-after speaker, having delivered talks on education, skill development, and the future of work on over 500 platforms.
Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan
Government of Tamil Nadu
Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan
Government of Tamil NaduDr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan is the Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services in the Tamil Nadu Government. He previously served as the Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management. During his tenure as Finance Minister, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu nominated Dr Rajan to the Goods & Service Tax Council (GST Council) to represent the Government of Tamil Nadu. Dr Rajan was also a member of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on System Reforms (standing committee) and Taxation Reforms for Casinos, Race Courses, and Online Gaming. Before entering Politics, Dr Rajan worked as an International Investment Banker for over 20 years. He held senior leadership roles at Lehman Brothers in New York and Standard Chartered in Singapore. Dr Rajan holds a B.Tech from NIT, Trichy, MS in Operations Research & PhD in Human Factors Engineering/Engineering Psychology) from the State University of New York and an MBA in Financial Management from MIT Sloan School of Management.
Dr. Ir. Rob Tieben
Games for Health
Dr. Ir. Rob Tieben
Games for HealthRob Tieben is a designer, researcher, entrepreneur and director. He has a PhD in ‘behaviour change through play’, and is co-founder of a group of companies (Games for Health). Games for Health works to make 1 billion people happy and healthy using the power of play, interaction and technology. Rob enjoys cooperating with experts, scientists, healthcare professionals, patients and families. Together with partners, he designs and implements scalable health solutions that truly change a person’s life. These solutions are implemented world-wide in hospitals and homecare, through start-ups, scale-ups and partnerships.
Dr. Menno Deen
Super Menno Monster & Games for Health
Dr. Menno Deen
Super Menno Monster & Games for HealthDr. Menno van Pelt-Deen is a Design Researcher who explores game design in unique contexts, such as swimming pools, therapeutic sessions, and forests. He collaborates with professionals, students, and non-game developers, building bridges between industries, disciplines, and people. His work fosters the inclusion of new perspectives and domains in the game development industry, promoting honest dialogue amongst players.
Dr. Varudhini Kankipati
Inner-Connect
Dr. Varudhini Kankipati
Inner-ConnectDr. Varudhini Kankipati, Ph.D. is a practicing psychologist who specializes in individual, marriage, family and group psychotherapy, working with children, adolescents, and adults. She is Co-founder of Inner-Connect psychological counseling center and is currently a counsellor for NALSAR University of Law and has over 22 years of professional counselling experience in India, U.S.A and Canada. Dr. Kankipati is an experienced therapist with extensive knowledge of behavioral health illnesses and symptoms management through a combination of therapy and medication. She follows a holistic treatment/team approach and has much experience with CBT, Gestalt, REBT etc working in conjunction with child therapists, psychiatrists, schools’, hospitals’ and other support staff. Her treatment philosophy is influenced by her belief in the importance of treating patients through a systems perspective. In addition, she advocates and practices community based models of intervention in dealing with social issues and behavioral health issues.
Dr.B.L.Lakshmi Meera
Forge Innovation & Ventures
Dr.B.L.Lakshmi Meera
Forge Innovation & VenturesMeera is a dynamic catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship with a wealth of experience spanning technology, business, entrepreneurship, manufacturing, and research. With over two decades of diverse expertise, she has uncovered a profound insight—the vast innovative potential and technological prowess within the youth of the nation remain largely untapped. Her interests span a wide spectrum, from designing programs and processes that cultivate a dynamic and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem to formulating transformative policies and programs for institutions, industry, and government. Her passion lies in cultivating robust relationships and expansive networks across the country to actualise her vision of scaling the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem for transformative growth. At present, she spearheads the design, operations, and overall execution of Innovation Products, Projects, and Programs at Forge. In this pivotal role, she leads the implementation of a portfolio of innovation programs - exemplary initiatives that unite academia, industry, and government in an open-innovation platform.
Druhin Mukherjee
Godspeed Games
Druhin Mukherjee
Godspeed GamesOver 18+ industry experience, Druhin Mukherjee is the Co-founder and CTPO at GodSpeed Games. He was the first Indian to win a video game International BAFTA in the year 2012. Battle Legion, a game published by Godspeed Games is currently live on the Play Stores on Google and Apple. Over the years he was also awarded the Asia Pacific 30 Under 30 in 2013 and AVGC 40 Under 40 in 2023. Godspeed Games has worked over 500+ games over the period of 10 years across Consoles, PC, and Mobile. He is currently also helping with the country's AVGC-XR policies.
Duncan Campbell
Roblox
Duncan Campbell
RobloxDuncan Campbell is currently a Senior Developer Program Manager for Roblox on the Developer Relations Community team, responsible for the growth of the developer, publisher and user communities. He’s been in the games industry for over a decade with experience in partnerships, content, marketing, media, community management and development having worked at companies such as EA, Ubisoft, and HTC Vive, and more.
Esra Krabbe
IGN Japan
Esra Krabbe
IGN JapanFull-time video game journalist at IGN JAPAN since 2016. I specialize in the Japanese video game industry as well as adventure games with a high emphasis on interactive storytelling. Born in the Netherlands in 1987 but based in Japan since 2004. Previously a karate instructor and backpacker. For the last five years I’ve been working on an unannounced indie game as well.
Eva Vonk
TALES
Eva Vonk
TALESEva Vonk is the CEO of TALES, a nonprofit international multimedia initiative. With a diverse background in cinema and advertising, Eva’s work has appeared in major media outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, BBC Radio, PBS News Hour and more. Her work is committed to leveraging media for positive impact and cultural preservation, emphasizing multidisciplinary approaches and co-creation methods. Eva is focused on developing narratives that both entertain and foster social awareness, particularly highlighting authentic and indigenous stories.
Ganesh S
Edrevel
Ganesh S
EdrevelA Learning & Workforce Development Strategist, with over 27 years’ experience in leading and managing multiple businesses verticals specializing in Technology enabled Education & Skill Development. An IIMC graduate and qualified Independent Director from Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), he currently leads, Product Strategy for Technogems Inc. as its Director. He is also actively associated as a Board of Studies member with several educational institutions apart from being a member of Skill Development council of FICCI, Academic Convener of Experiential Technology Council, XTIC - IIT Madras. A large part of his career has been on Skill Development and Technology enabled scalable learning models. As a passionate learner, trainer and coach, he loves engaging with the students, faculties and budding entrepreneurs. He has done several certifications in the areas of coaching & mentoring new age entrepreneurs and businesses, notable among them are from Wharton School of Business, Case Western Reserve University, University of Maryland, University of Toronto, etc. A Gamification & Game based teaching specialist conducts Faculty Development workshops on Teaching and Learning process for Higher Education faculties.
Gangatharaprabu Ganesan
Gaming Glance Digital Experience Pvt Ltd.
Gangatharaprabu Ganesan
Gaming Glance Digital Experience Pvt Ltd.Prabu is currently leading the Gaming product for Glance and building a Gen AI based gaming platform that can operate on different smartphone surfaces. He has been working in gaming for the past decade in different capacities. In the past, he has worked across different lifecycles of games and has created and managed more than 15 titles across different genres like Casual, Simulation, Social Casino, 4X strategy and mid-core games, across Android, iOS, Facebook and other web platforms.
Gaurav Mathur
Epic Games
Gaurav Mathur
Epic GamesGaurav is currently working as a Solutions Architect at Epic Games, drawing on over two decades of experience in CG Content Creation for Motion Pictures, TV, and Games. His diverse background includes roles in both artistic and technical capacities at Animagic, Rhythm & Hues, Dreamworks Animation, Animal Logic, Double Negative, and, most recently, The Mill, where he served as the Head of 3D.
Gaurav Ranjan
Prime Venture Partners
Gaurav Ranjan
Prime Venture PartnersGaurav is an operator turned investor and has been investing in early stage technology startups over the last 6+ years. Before becoming an investor Gaurav spent over 4 years working with early stage consumer-tech startups where he was instrumental in their 0-1 journey. Currently he leads investments in gaming companies among other things at Prime Ventures.
Gayatri Thaman
Yesgnome
Gayatri Thaman
YesgnomeGayatri is an accomplished product management professional with over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry. As the Product Head at Yesgnome, she has played a pivotal role in driving product strategy, overseeing end-to-end product development, and aligning cross-functional teams to achieve business goals. Throughout her career, Gayatri has managed strategic initiatives that have enhanced user experience, optimized product performance, and incorporated art and design to create visually engaging, user-friendly products, as well as innovative AI-driven solutions. Gayatri’s leadership style focuses on collaboration, innovation, and data-driven decision-making to create successful products that resonate with users and deliver value to the business. Her approach ensures products meet market demands, maintain high aesthetic and functional standards, and foster long-term growth.
Geetika Sharma
Visceral Technologies
Geetika Sharma
Visceral TechnologiesGeetika Sharma is a seasoned XR expert with over a decade of experience in industry research labs. Holding a master's degree in Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Image-based Rendering, her work spans XR, cloud computing, and visual analytics. Geetika's research has yielded innovative tools, including an enterprise metaverse for distributed teams and a cutting-edge visual analytics platform for multi-sensor data. Geetika co-founded and served as CTO of a tech startup leveraging XR and 3D printing to create immersive experiences for tangible and intangible heritage. Currently, she lends her expertise to data analytics and AI for game production.
Gnana Shekar
Skyesports
Gnana Shekar
SkyesportsGnana Shekar, Chief Marketing Officer at Skyesports, is a pioneering leader in Indian esports with over 15 years of experience. His contributions span innovative marketing, policy advocacy, and entrepreneurship, driving Skyesports' growth and positioning it as India’s leading IP and community builder in gaming and esports. Under his leadership, Skyesports has successfully launched and promoted over 25 IPs, both in India and internationally.
Hanif Mohammed Marakkarackayil
Asian institute of Design
Hanif Mohammed Marakkarackayil
Asian institute of DesignHanif as the co-founder of India’s leading gaming institute, the Asian Institute of Design (AID), I have been guiding its transformation from AIGA, India’s first dedicated gaming institute, into a full-fledged design hub. With years of experience founding educational institutions like Middle East College and Integral Solutions in Muscat, Oman. I’ve found myself at the heart of where industry meets academia. My passion lies in creating pathways for experiential learning and building a pedagogy that enhances employability in the ever-evolving design world of work.
Himanshu Manwani
Xigma Games
Himanshu Manwani
Xigma GamesA passionate gamer with over a decade of experience in crafting and developing games. Founder, Producer, Designer at Xigma Games, one of India's premier indie game development studios. Specializing in developing multiplatform games on creative, original, and innovative ideas for the global market. Leading a team of passionate gamers with a mission to put India on the global map of game development.
Hrishi Oberoi
Photon Tadpole Studios
Hrishi Oberoi
Photon Tadpole StudiosHrishi is a Video Games developer with several years experience in the video game industry, both as an external employee and contractor. I have shipped titles for 3D and Android and have contributed to mobile apps on many different platforms. My specialties are designing assets and implementing features, including but not limited to gameplay, UI, mechanics and AI. My passion is creating interactive experiences that are both fun and challenging to play, and I love working with talented people on projects that I can bring to life
Hugo Obi
Maliyo Games
Hugo Obi
Maliyo GamesHugo Obi is the visionary Founder & CEO of Maliyo Games, a driving force in the African gaming industry. He's passionate about sharing authentic African stories through captivating mobile games, pushing boundaries and redefining what's possible. With an eye for talent and a leadership style that fosters high-performing teams, Hugo inspires both his colleagues and the burgeoning community of aspiring game professionals he supports through the GameUp Africa initiative. A master at balancing creativity and strategy, Hugo's dedication has established him as a pioneer and a role model in the field. He's not just a public speaker and trendsetter; he's a game-changer who empowers others to achieve their dreams. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Hugo remains a curious explorer and a natural teacher, sharing knowledge with infectious enthusiasm and a dash of quick wit. His approachable nature and passion for gaming make him a true inspiration. Hugo Obi is more than a CEO; he's shaping the future of African gaming, one game at a time.
Hussam Hammo
Tamatem Games
Hussam Hammo
Tamatem GamesHussam is the CEO and founder of Tamatem Games. Tamatem is the leading mobile games publisher in the MENA region, with over 150 million game downloads, 3 million monthly active users, and over 50 published games. Tamatem partners with international game developers worldwide to bring the best mobile games and entertainment to the Arabic-speaking world. Hussam launched Tamatem in 2013 with the sole purpose of creating games that were in the native language and culture of the Arab region. Early in his entrepreneurial career, Hussam realized the massive lack of Arabic content available online and more so in the world of mobile games. With the launch of Tamatem Games, Hussam’s pursuit of entertaining people with content that they can relate to and more importantly understand began.
Imtiaz Hussain
YesGnome
Imtiaz Hussain
YesGnomeImtiaz Hussain is the Co-founder & COO of YesGnome, a leading mobile gaming company from Hyderabad, India. He has worked with leading IP owners in the entertainment industry like Fox, Cartoon Network, CBS Interactive, Dreamworks etc., to build chart topping games for YesGnome. He is the core council member of India Developer Game Conference, biggest game developer conference in India and also a member of the management committee of IMAGE incubator, exclusive program for gaming companies.
Inderpal Singh
Moonfrog Labs
Inderpal Singh
Moonfrog LabsInderpal has over 12+ years experience in the gaming industry and leads Moonfrog in its vision to build superior gaming experiences. With a passion for product, engineering and being an avid gamer himself, he has been instrumental in Moonfrog's success in becoming a market leader for games like Ludo & Teenpatti, which are India's leading games in the board & card game genre. Other than playing games, he is a sports enthusiast, loves watching Cricket & enjoys cycling in his free time.
Ishma Mahajan
Lakshya Digital
Ishma Mahajan
Lakshya DigitalCurrently leading content : social media, and marketing at Lakshya Digital. With a background as a Film Curator and indie film producer, I’m passionate about visual storytelling, with expertise in creating and curating engaging content that builds loyal online communities.
Ivan Karpinsky
Azur Games
Ivan Karpinsky
Azur Games10+ years living in China, most of which were spent on Business Development in Mobile Internet and Mobile Games Industry. Currently working on bringing Chinese mobile games to overseas market. Games genre vary from hypercasual to mid-core, including sub-genres like io, idle, HOMA, FPS, horror, adventure, economic simulators, SLG etc.
Jackson Vaughan
Konvoy
Jackson Vaughan
KonvoyJackson Vaughan is a Managing Partner at Konvoy, an early stage venture capital fund dedicated to the video gaming industry. Konvoy invests in platforms and technologies such as Sky Mavis (Axie Infinity), Edgegap, Gamefam, and Carry1st to name a few. Prior to Konvoy, Jackson was a software developer within IBM's Watson AI and machine learning group.
Jaeho Hwang
MINTROCKET
Jaeho Hwang
MINTROCKETJaeho Hwang is the Game Director of Dave the Diver at MINTROCKET. He has left his mark on games of unique and fulfilling quality, from his first-pixel art mobile action game, , in 2017 to one of the biggest hits of 2023, . His profound passion for subculture also led him to create in 2019.
James Batchelor
GamesIndustry.biz
James Batchelor
GamesIndustry.bizJames Batchelor is Editor-in-Chief at GamesIndustry.biz and co-host of the GI Microcast. A journalist since 2006, he was previously editor of Develop and deputy editor of MCV, and has also written for Eurogamer, TechRadar Time Extension, and NintendoLife. He is the author of The Best Non-Violent Video Games, as well as urban fantasy thrillers Wandless and Blow The House Down, and creator of Non-Violent Game of the Day (@NVGOTD) - an account that explores the full breadth of video games. Based in Essex, he does still play violent games (but always on Easy/Story Mode).
Jasmeet Singh
Nukebox Studios
Jasmeet Singh
Nukebox StudiosJasmeet has been immersed in the digital space for about two decades, with a particular focus on free-to-play (F2P) mobile gaming. His experience spans roles at Reliance and Gameloft, where he managed games that amassed over 200 million downloads. Currently, he is spearheading all product initiatives at Nukebox Studios.
Jeno Durairaj
Highbrow Interactive
Jeno Durairaj
Highbrow InteractiveJeno Durairaj is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology expert, best known as the co-founder and driving force behind Highbrow Interactive, a leading game development studio based in Chennai, India. Under his leadership, the studio has released a series of highly popular mobile games, including the acclaimed Indian Train Simulator, amassing a global player base of over 100 million users.
Jeremy Foo
Tezos Ecosystem
Jeremy Foo
Tezos Ecosystem
Global Head of Gaming at TZAPAC, responsible for the success of gaming on the Tezos blockchain. Experienced gaming industry leader with a strong background in strategic planning, project management, and data-driven decision-making. I guided senior management at Sea Limited on key strategic initiatives, directed the global gaming strategy for Tezos, and advised public companies and governments at McKinsey. I also led major investment deals at Sea Limited.
Joel Johnson
Amazon
Joel Johnson
AmazonJoel has been in games and gamification for over twenty years. He's dabbled in art, programming, design and product management. He's worked at startups, MNCs, and not-for-profits. These include Cisco, Games24x7, EkStep Foundation and Amazon. Usually lurking in gamedev communities on Discord and WhatsApp, he can be lured for meetups with the promise of biriyani.
John Kelly
Aged Dice Studios
John Kelly
Aged Dice StudiosJohn Kelly is the CEO of Aged Dice, a tabletop gaming startup. With over a decade of experience in game design and executive leadership, John excels in running teams and business units. His previous roles include Vice President of Design at Mayhem Studios, Creative Director at PlaySimple Games, and Director of Product at Wargaming. John has a proven track record in managing game design projects from concept to live operations in mobile and console gaming sectors.
John Park
Xsolla
John Park
XsollaJohn Park is a seasoned business executive with extensive experience in operations, business development, and strategic partnerships, specializing in payments, technology and gaming sectors. Currently serving as Vice President of Business Development, APAC at Xsolla, he drives new revenue streams and growth opportunities. With a proven track record of fostering collaborations and executing data-driven strategies, he also brings experience from a strategic alliance role at LG. He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business.
Jordan Weisman
Endless Adventures Incorporated
Jordan Weisman
Endless Adventures IncorporatedJordan Weisman has been a game designer and entrepreneur for over 40 years, creating iconic franchises like BattleTech, MechWarrior, and Shadowrun. A pioneer in merging storytelling, socialization, and technology, he has developed over 30 video games and was an early innovator in VR with his global LBE centers in the 1990s. He founded FASA Interactive, later acquired by Microsoft, where he served as Creative Director for Xbox's launch. Weisman also led transmedia projects like I Love Bees and Why So Serious through 42 Entertainment. After co-founding Harebrained Schemes to develop CRPGs and tactical games, he worked with Disney Imagineering and Walmart on AR projects. He is currently the CEO of Endless Adventures Incorporated, focusing on no-code game development.
Joseph Cairns
Adventure Recruitment
Joseph Cairns
Adventure RecruitmentJoseph is the Founder and CEO of Adventure Recruitment, a recruitment firm specializing in the games industry covering mobile, console, PC, VR and AR games. Expert at headhunting, networking and connecting with high demand candidates and providing them with exception opportunities across Engineering, Design, Art and Production. Experienced training, managing and motivating other recruiters. I grew up in the UK, lived in California for 8 years and then moved my business to Bangalore.
Joseph Kim
Lila Games
Joseph Kim
Lila GamesJoseph is currently the CEO of mobile gaming start-up Lila Games, headquartered in India. Lila focuses on developing innovative mobile game experiences. Previously, he worked in game publishing as SVP of Games & Digital Platforms at NBCUniversal and as Chief Product Officer at SEGA. Before game publishing, Joseph worked on the studio/development side and led the development of King of Avalon as a Studio Lead at FunPlus. Before joining the game industry, Joseph worked as a management consultant and software developer. Joseph Kim currently publishes game development and analysis content on his game dev newsletter GameMakers as well as through GameMakers content on YouTube and podcast.
Karan Parikh
Green Rain Studios
Karan Parikh
Green Rain StudiosKaran is the founder and CEO of Green Rain Studios. He is an immersive technologist with expertise in real-time workflows. Karan India’s first Unreal authorized instructor and is a master mentor in Unreal Engine’s Virtual Production Fellowship program. Karan is focused on using technology to blur the lines between real and virtual worlds. His areas of expertise include virtual production, animation, games, XR, and simulations. His collaborative works have been displayed at some of the most prestigious art galleries, public spaces and museums such as Times Square in NYC, Artechouse in D.C., The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester NY.
Karan Verma
Lakshya Digital Pvt. Ltd.
Karan Verma
Lakshya Digital Pvt. Ltd.
Started as a Junior Animator at Lakshya in 2010, I have the expertise of working on both Motion Capture and Keyframe animations for several AAA Game Titles for clients spread across the globe. During this 14 years of journey as and when opportunities came in my way, I climbed up the ladder and today, as Associate Animation Director, I head the entire animation team at Lakshya for all 3 Studios based in Gurgaon, Pune and Bangalore. I excel in training and managing both internal and external animation teams across all animation disciplines.
Kartik Prabhakara
Aream & Co.
Kartik Prabhakara
Aream & Co.Kartik is the co-founder of Aream & Co., a premier boutique investment bank specializing in gaming and interactive entertainment. Under his leadership, Aream & Co. has successfully executed over 55 transactions, totaling more than $32 billion in deal value within the sector. Prior to founding Aream & Co., Kartik served as a Partner at CODE Advisors and was a Director in the Technology Investment Banking division at UBS. With two decades of experience in mergers & acquisitions and the technology sector, Kartik is a seasoned expert in navigating complex transactions and driving strategic growth.
Kartik Sabherwal
Upthrust Esports Pvt Ltd
Kartik Sabherwal
Upthrust Esports Pvt Ltd"He started Upthrust Esports 4 years ago (at the age of 19), and has been part of the esports community for the last 5 years. As being one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the community, he showcased his brand on Shark Tank India, promoting Esports in India and its growth on national television. Currently, he leads a team of over 30 people and has collaborated with more than 20 endemic & non-endemic brands."
Kashyap Reddy
Hitwicket
Kashyap Reddy
HitwicketHe has been designing games since he was 10yrs old and he views technology as a vehicle to build products relevant for all social-economic stratas across India and the World. He is a graduate of VIT Vellore and the first ever recipient of VIT's prestigious 'Young Alumni Achiever Award'. Post his stint as a web designer in Sweden, he moved back to India to pursue his dream of creating a World Class game from India for India and the World.
Kaushal Shah
EY India
Kaushal Shah
EY IndiaKaushal Shah, a partner at EY with almost two decades of experience, has led more than 40 significant transactions across Media and various other industries such as Telecom, Education, Travel and Business Services. His involvement in the $2 billion PVR-Inox merger, the largest in India's market, highlights his expertise in managing complex, high-value deals. Additionally, he has played a key role in prominent gaming industry transactions, including Delta Corp’s acquisition of Adda 52 and Nazara Technologies' acquisition of Nodwin Gaming. An engineer by education and an MBA graduate from NMIMS, Kaushal's professional background includes roles at JP Morgan and Kotak Mahindra Bank.
Keerti Singh
Hitwicket
Keerti Singh
HitwicketKeerti Singh is the co-founder of Hitwicket & handles growth in the Company. Since childhood, Keerti had a keen interest in Cricket and Formulae One. Post her Engineering from VIT, Vellore, Keerti worked at Indian Oil for a couple of years and later pursued her MBA from ISB, Hyderabad. Before co-founding Hitwicket, she worked at Amazon in a Leadership role where she was managing the India and North America teams. She was selected among the ‘Top 40 Global Women Business Leaders’ by the Govt of Australia to represent the Gaming Industry. As a 12 yr old, she was the youngest member to be selected in the country’s youth delegation to the UK and represent India. She carries a keen interest in problem solving, customer centricity and contributing to better user experience. She enjoys playing mobile sports games and reading all topics on Human mind and body. With the vision to empower the billion cricket fans globally to actively engage with the sport and to create the World's 1st Mobile Esports IP for Cricket, Keerti co-founded Hitwicket with Kashyap Reddy.
Kinshuk Sunil
Second Quest
Kinshuk Sunil
Second QuestKinshuk is a driving force in the Indian game development industry. He co-founded Second Quest, India's first global simulation games studio, focusing on creating immersive experiences with deep gameplay. This pushes the boundaries of Indian game development, introducing a genre rarely seen in the country. In a career spanning over 20 years, he has shipped over 100 games. Beyond Second Quest, Kinshuk co-founded GameDev.in, India's largest game development community. This platform fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among developers, strengthening the Indian gaming ecosystem. His contributions were recognized in 2020 when he was named a GI100 Game Changer, highlighting his significant contributions to the Indian industry.
Kiran Thakkar
Avalanche Studios Group
Kiran Thakkar
Avalanche Studios GroupHello! I am Kiran, a game designer based in Stockholm. I love creating immersive experiences that bring joy to players and brighten up their day. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to work with wonderful teams with different approaches to design, and I am excited to share my learnings with you. I started my journey into game dev at Zynga working as a Game Designer on Farmville 2: Country Escape, from there I moved to Poland to start working with CD Projekt Red, to handle the meta gameplay aspect of GWENT: The Witcher Card Game. Finally, my journey took me to Sweden to work at Avalanche Studios Group where I have worked on two AAA projects so far, their new project Contraband and theHunter: Call of the Wild. Looking forward to meeting you at the conference!
Kshiraj Telang
Moon Active
Kshiraj Telang
Moon ActiveKshiraj Telang is a seasoned game art director with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Having worked in diverse cultural hubs like Barcelona and Helsinki, he brings a rich blend of creativity and leadership to his role as an Art Director at Moon Active. He has contributed to major game IPs, including the Candy Crush and Angry Birds franchises. He is also the founder and host of ‘Doodles to Downloads’, a podcast about game art.
Kumar Chandrasekaran
Saffronic
Kumar Chandrasekaran
SaffronicKumar Chandrasekaran brings his invaluable 28+ years of Animation experience with a decade of expertise within the gaming sphere to Saffronic. He has contributed to numerous AAA game titles, animation features, and series. Kumar's versatile skill set spans various roles, encompassing artistic, technical, and production domains. His leadership has been instrumental in managing extensive teams, surpassing a capacity of over 1000 individuals, reflecting his profound impact on Saffronic's success. NHL 22, FIFA, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Mafia: Definitive Edition, NFS: Heat, Resident Evil 2, Mortal Kombat 11, Bravely Default, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey are a few of the renowned games to name which is part of Kumar's diverse Gaming experience.
Kunal Kumar
AWS
Kunal Kumar
AWSKunal is a Senior Solutions Architect at AWS India, focusing on cloud-native solutions for GameTech customers. With a passion for innovative technology, his expertise is in designing data-intensive platforms, and cutting-edge architectures tailored to the unique needs of the gaming industry.
Laiju I.P Nair
Dept. Of Higher Edn, Govt. of Kerala.
Laiju I.P Nair
Dept. Of Higher Edn, Govt. of Kerala.Presently engaged as HOD - CoE (Centre Of Excellence) & Demand Aggregation in ASAP kerala (an SPV) under Higher Education Dept, Govt. of Kerala. Leading the team of program managers in establishing Industry Connect (National & International), skill demand aggregation and COEs right from the DPR, identifying & bringing Funds, Procurement, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Equipment and systems enabling a skilling ecosystem and employability enhancement for the state in ASAP’s Community Skill Parks across the state in emerging technologies such as Industry 4.0, Electric Vehicles, AR VR, METAVERSE with AI, 5G.
Lavanya Lakshminarayan
Lavanya Lakshminarayan
Lavanya Lakshminarayan is a science fiction writer and game designer. She's the first Indian woman to be nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, and is the multi-award winning author of The Ten Percent Thief and Interstellar MegaChef. Her work has been translated into multiple languages around the world, and her short fiction has been published in numerous anthologies and magazines. Lavanya has also worked in the gaming industry for over a decade. She led game design at Zynga Inc. on several games, including Mafia Wars, FarmVille and FarmVille 2, and most recently tinkered with word games at PlaySimple Games. She's a gamer across platforms, a classically-trained pianist, and a compulsive traveller.
Laxmi Khanolkar
Apar Games
Laxmi Khanolkar
Apar GamesLaxmi Khanolkar is a long-time gaming industry veteran with over 20 years of experience. She has BFA and MBA degrees from top institutes in India. Before starting Apar Games, she worked with top Indian companies like Rediff.com and Reliance games as a game producer. Under the leadership of Laxmi, Apar Games has won awards and recognition in the gaming industry globally. She loves playing all kinds of games but 'puzzle' is her favourite genre. Her first gaming console was Sega-Mega Drive. She is an artist, game designer, mother and mentor.
Liana Ruppert
Uncommon Games/Prime Video
Liana Ruppert
Uncommon Games/Prime VideoLiana is a former military veteran who has worked in the gaming industry for over 21 years. From community to accessibility, narrative to media, Liana has experience across many disciplines and has worked on projects like Bungie's Destiny 2, EA's Dead Space remake, Tetris, Walking Dead Saints & Sinners, and more, as well as Game Informer, BBC International News, Prima Games on the media side. She has even helped curate international events such as E3 and press events for companies like CD Projekt RED for Cyberpunk 2077. More than career annotations, Liana's focus has always been focused on movement towards a more humanized gaming industry, both internally and on a wider scale with players, and that goal continues to grow in scope as the industry continues to dismantle and rebuild towards a healthier future for all.
Lokesh Suji
Esports Federation of India
Lokesh Suji
Esports Federation of IndiaHe is a known name when it comes to Indian Esports and has played key role in getting esports recognized as a sport in India. Instrumental in the India's first esports medal (Bronze- Demonstration Title) at Asian Games '18; Bronze Medal at inaugural Commonwealth Esports Championhsip'22; 5th position in Asian Games’22 (League of Legends). Business owner by day and esports fanatic by night; Lokesh Suji aka dAwesomeNinja (that is his ingame name), is an esports Evangelist, Hustler and a Telecom Veteran with 18+ yrs of corporate experience with companies like Huawei, Tata Communications, Airtel, Reliance. Over the years been part of esports, and across different formats and categories of games, he found that the vertical in India is unstructured & Unexplored, which needed to be developed along professional lines – much in the same way that other forms of sports are being developed in the country (be it Cricket, Football or now Kabaddi). His aspiration is to ensure that the category of esports is created and managed in much the same way as it is in countries like the United States, European Union, South Korea and China.
Mala Sen
Niku Games Studio
Mala Sen
Niku Games StudioMala Sen is the Director and Artist of Niku Games Studio. She completed her B.F.A and M.F.A from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan and started her career as a large-scale textile-artist and educator in the field of art. She always had a love of stories and realised that games are an excellent medium of expression. Therefore, she partnered up with Mridul Kashatria and pivoted into game development. Together, they started Niku Games Studio with the goal of making story-rich and cultural games. Niku Games Studio recently released the award-winning and critically acclaimed 'The Palace on the Hill', a slice-of-life RPG set in a fictional village in 90s India.
Manish Agarwal
KGen
Manish Agarwal
KGenManish Agarwal is an IIM-A & NIT-W alum and joined India's nascent gaming ecosystem 15 years ago. As the CEO of Nazara, he was the driving force in making it India's first & only publicly listed gaming company. Manish is currently building the world's largest Web3 gaming community with Kratos Gaming Network, with the goal of onboarding the country's 1B+ gamers.
Manvendra Shukul
Lakshya Digital
Manvendra Shukul
Lakshya DigitalManvendra Shukul is an experienced leader in the gaming and digital entertainment industry with a career spanning over two decades. As the CEO of Lakshya Digital, he has played a pivotal role in establishing the company as a leading game art outsourcing studio globally. Manvendra's expertise lies in game development, team building, and driving innovative projects. He is passionate about nurturing talent and advancing the Indian gaming industry on the world stage.
Marco Pisanu
Remedy Entertainment Plc.
Marco Pisanu
Remedy Entertainment Plc.Marco Pisanu is the Lead Game-Tech Programmer at Remedy Entertainment Plc., with over 15 years of experience in game development. His career includes roles at Ubisoft, Guerrilla Games, and Cloud Imperium Games, contributing to notable titles such as "Horizon: Zero Dawn," "Star Citizen," "Control," and "Alan Wake 2." Marco specializes in programming AI engine technologies, focusing on AI decision-making algorithms, pathfinding, awareness frameworks, and other AI features. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
Mark Greenshields
Kwalee
Mark Greenshields
KwaleeMark Greenshields is a veteran of the games industry, having founded many successful studios and was directly responsible for many highly successful games including Nascar Heat Mobile, Kick Off, many Need for Speed titles, Trackmania, Hannah Montana and many more, on countless platforms from the NES through to PS4, Switch and Iphone and Android phones. Most recently, Mark was VP of Kwalee Bengaluru where he restructured QA and operations and created a global development team, staffed and driven from Bengaluru to create global hits in India. Now Mark is a consultant and advisor, helping Indian and other companies build teams and develop and market games for the Global marketplace. Having extensive experience working with studios in India and Asia as well as running multi location teams across the US, Canada, UK, France and India, he is ideally placed to manage multi location and global dev centres. Previous positions include VP Studio of Kwalee, Bengaluru, CEO of Firebrand Games, CEO of DC Studios and many more.
Matthew Farber
University of Northern Colorado
Matthew Farber
University of Northern ColoradoMatthew Farber, Ed.D. is an associate professor of educational technology at the University of Northern Colorado and the co-director of the Gaming SEL Lab. He studies how playing and making games can foster empathy, compassion, perspective-taking, and ethical decision-making. He developed game-based lessons with Tracy Fullerton for her award-winning Walden, a game EDU and has also worked with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), iThrive Games, and Games for Change. He was a contributing writer for Origin101, the official learning companion for Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed film Origin. Author of several books, including Gaming SEL: Games as Transformational to Social and Emotional Learning, and articles, Dr. Farber has been invited to the White House and has been interviewed by NPR, The Washington Post, Fast Company, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Upcoming in March 2025 is a new book published by MIT Press and co-authored with Tracy Fullerton: The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully.
Mayank Khanduja
Elevation Capital
Mayank Khanduja
Elevation CapitalMayank Khanduja is leading investments in the consumer tech space, encompassing sectors like gaming, Social media, travel, proptech, and healthtech. His portfolio spans a diverse range of companies, including ShareChat, NoBroker, Loop Health, Atlys, AppsForBharat, Frnd,Piersight. His approach to investing is characterized by forming deep partnerships with founders, guiding them from concept to commercial success and beyond. Within the gaming sector, his investments are across studios, game developers and engagement platforms, including PlaySimple Games, Probo, Turnip, Virbhoomi, and FlecksLabs among others.
Mayur Bhimjiyani
Independent
Mayur Bhimjiyani
IndependentMayur is a former gaming entrepreneur. Mayur has led one of India's most exciting game studios - Hypernova Interactive - Of Mayanagari fame - for a decade. Mayur has also formerly led game design on large franchise titles such as FarmVille and CastleVille.
Mohit Soni
MESC
Mohit Soni
MESCMohit Soni is a CEO of MESC and is founded in 2012, Media & Entertainment Skills Council (MESC) is a Not-for-Profit Organization, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The Council has been promoted by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) with financial support from National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).We are an awarding body with NCVET. MESC has 150 plus Affiliated Training Partners, 933 Total Certified Trainers, 24 plus Empaneled Assessment Agencies, 5,64,195 Trainings conducted under MESC, and 108 QPs across 12 Sub-Sectors.
Musab Zaman
India Today Gaming
Musab Zaman
India Today GamingMusab Zaman is a seasoned gaming industry professional at India Today. Having previously contributed to Tesseract as an esports caster and elevating gaming content at Organutan and India Today Gaming, where he currently serves as the Head of Content, he has brought gaming news to the mainstream audience of Aajtak Digital.
Mustafa Ghouse
Centre Court Capital
Mustafa Ghouse
Centre Court CapitalMustafa is the founding General Partner of Centre Court Capital. After years of being involved in the Indian sports industry, he identified a gap that needed to be filled, and with this fund he aims to do just that. Before Centre Court Capital, he was the founding CEO of JSW Sports where he conceptualized and developed the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS).He also led the acquisition and operations of sports franchises in the cricket (IPL), football (ISL), and kabaddi (PKL).
Nainy Sahani
TALES
Nainy Sahani
TALESNainy Sahani is a multidisciplinary leader committed to content innovation and creative application for emerging tech. Based in Berlin, she has reshaped creative strategies and digital transformation for organisations such as BBC Worldwide, Discovery Networks, Star, H&M, WPP and more. As an influential speaker and advisor, she advocates for sustainable practices and gender parity in tech, crafting a future where creativity and impact seamlessly connect.
Namrata Singh
ONDC
Namrata Singh
ONDCNamrata consults for New Population Scale Domains and Demand Generation for Open Network for Digital Commerce(ONDC).She used to head Emerging Tech for Sony Global last. She has been a Digital Entreprenuer from 2009 till end of Covid.Also has been a digital native since 2004 with erstwhile Webchutney and has been at the edge of technology and storytelling in her career. She is a part time script writer,improviser and poet.She loves psychology. She has set up a movie marketing and comic book company as a startup founder.Currently running a education focus startup lab and a digital advisory firm of her own.
Neeraj Kumar
Silvine Game Studios
Neeraj Kumar
Silvine Game StudiosAs an individual, I spent my childhood obsessed with playing Arcade, NES & PC games like Contra, Double Dragon, Counter-Strike, etc. The game which stuck with me the most and inspired me to join the gaming industry was the Half-life series. With over 14+ years of experience in the industry, I worked on game genres ranging from casual to hardcore on PC and mobile platforms. I even co-founded an indie studio called "Ogre Head Studio", wherein I developed & shipped Asura: Vengeance Edition (Steam), a hack-and-slash rogue-like game with an innovative skill tree system. Since then, the game has gained global recognition and success. Apart from this, I have worked with external clients from Dubai on service projects related to game development and also prototyped various concepts, including Casual, Arcade, and even RTS games. Currently, I am the founder of Silvine Game Studios, an independent game development studio based in Chennai. I founded this studio along with my co-founders, Aubhik, Ekta, and Vishal. This is my second entrepreneurial stint in the indie space.
Nick Orchard
Technicolor Games
Nick Orchard
Technicolor GamesNick has a degree in 3D Game Art from Bolton University, which led him to hone skills in visual scripting. Having gained a Master of Arts (MA) in Game Design in 2015, Nick went on to develop VR projects and work at MPC where he was closely associated with Epic Games on various virtual production projects. As technical art director at Technicolor Games, Nick is also responsible for creating and delivering in-house Unreal Engine training programs.
Nimish Raut
Nodwin
Nimish Raut
Nodwin
New age sports marketing person who switched to esports around 2013-14 and made his mark across the SEA region. The switch to mainstream esports happened with riot games followed by an India lead role with one of the best esports team in the world 'Fnatic' Managed sports marketing for a brand like Red Bull in India and building regional relevance for the brand with projects like Red Bull Kite Fight, Red Bull Tashan, and Red Bull Jod Ke Tod I have moved to StarSports within the product team. At Star, my role focused on new sports products for StarSports and Hotstar and explore / experiment with E-Sports and niche properties such as F1, Hockey, Badminton, Football, Cricket, Marathons, etc. Over the last decade, I have been fortunate enough to work on global sports properties such as ICC World Cups, Indian Premier League, Hockey India League, World Series Hockey, English Premier League and more.
Nirav Doshi
AWS
Nirav Doshi
AWSNirav has been at AWS for over 8 years and has worked in the software industry for over 30 years primarily as a developer, and an engineering leader. Prior to joining AWS, he has worked in the games industry for more than 10 years, developing and operating various video/mobile titles, as well as online casinos. As the APJ Games’ Specialist SA based at Sydney (Australia), he advises game studios across APJ about their game business, development, & product strategies, as well as navigates through their deep technical challenges on their AWS adoption journey.
Nirmala Menon
Interweave Consulting
Nirmala Menon
Interweave ConsultingHR professional with over 30 years of experience in diverse functions across HR as a corporate employee and as a consultant, both in India and the United States Worked in organisations in the public and private sector. Prior to Interweave, was the Diversity and Employee Relations leader for IBM in India where she gained wide and varied experience in the area of diversity and inclusiveness management. The five-year stint in IBM gave her opportunities to work on and facilitate workshops in several locations including most countries in APAC, Ireland, Canada, Mexico and the United States . Since 2006, as Founder and CEO, at Interweave Consulting Pvt. Ltd., pioneering Diversity and Inclusiveness solutions in the Indian corporate sector. Goal is to make Interweave a one-stop shop for all D&I solutions of organisations. Nirmala Menon is a graduate of XLRI in India, and has an additional Masters in Human Resource Administration from Temple University in Philadelphia, USA. Specialties: Diversity and Inclusiveness solutions for organisations.
Nishant Patel
AFK Gaming
Nishant Patel
AFK GamingNishant is the first founding member of AFK Gaming and has spearheaded its creation and growth since 2012. Under his leadership, the company has gone through multiple successful fundraises and delivered website growth of over 28x in 18 months, and 10 consecutive years of revenue growth. His experience in esports encompasses multiple areas such as content and business strategy, production, commentary, content operations and more. Prior to this, he has held roles in industry research and equity markets.
Nitish Mittersain
Nazara Technologies
Nitish Mittersain
Nazara TechnologiesNitish Mittersain is the Founder and CEO of Nazara Technologies, a leading gaming and sports media company in India. With a vision to make India a global gaming hub, he founded Nazara in 1999, long before mobile gaming became mainstream. Nitish has played a pivotal role in shaping the Indian gaming ecosystem, expanding Nazara's portfolio to include diverse offerings in e-sports, interactive gaming, and gamified early learning through brands like NODWIN Gaming, Kiddopia, and more. His entrepreneurial journey has earned him recognition as a key figure in the tech and gaming industries. Nitish is also known for his strategic acumen, having successfully taken Nazara Technologies public in 2021, marking it as one of the first gaming companies in India to be listed on the stock exchange. He remains dedicated to growing the gaming industry in India and internationally through innovation, acquisitions, and partnerships.
Ocean Sharma
GamingPro Ocean
Ocean Sharma
GamingPro OceanOcean Sharma aka Gamingpro Ocean is apopular YouTube stars in the Indian gaming community. With his entertaining videos, infectious personality, and exceptional gaming skills, he has amassed a dedicated fan base and achieved significant success on the platform. He is the most popular esports casters in India and well recognized in the Indian gaming community and currently boasts a subscriber count of over 865K on his primary YouTube channel.
Oliver Jones
Bombay Play Entertainment Private Limited.
Oliver Jones
Bombay Play Entertainment Private Limited.Oliver Jones is a Welsh game designer, entrepreneur, and co-founded Bombay Play and Moon Frog labs, a mobile game development studio based in Bengaluru, India. He has over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry, having worked at several leading companies, including Zynga and Glu Mobile. In 2014, Jones co-founded Bombay Play with the goal of creating high-quality mobile games for the Indian market. The company has since released several successful games, empires and allies, quiz up. Teen Patti gold is one of the most popular mobile games in India, with over 500 million downloads. Jones is a passionate advocate for the Indian gaming industry. He is a regular speaker at industry events and has been featured in publications such as The Economic Times, Forbes India, and The Hindu. He is also a member of the NASSCOM Game Developers' Council.
Olivier Hokke
Game Tailors
Olivier Hokke
Game TailorsOlivier Hokke, a Dutch entrepreneur, CEO, Co-owner and Game Designer of Game Tailors, has had a fascination for innovative technology from a young age. He followed his passion by studying Computer Science at Delft University of Technology, where he learned to mix creativity with scientific thinking. Over the years, he has gained extensive experience in developing more than 50 serious games, always pushing the boundaries of how games can be used for education. To increase efficiency in creating serious games for education, Game Tailors has developed its own game engine and platform, LearnPlus, specifically designed to create educational games
Paavan Nanda
WinZO
Paavan Nanda
WinZOPaavan Nanda is the CEO and Co-founder of WinZO, India’s largest social gaming platform with over 200 million registered users. Paavan is continuously looking for creative ideas to grow the interactive gaming ecosystem and create memorable gaming experiences for its users. He has established a $50 million developer fund at WinZO to fund and promote gaming, game technology and web3 projects around the world.
Paolo Abela
Fatus Games & Independent Multiplayer Consultant
Paolo Abela
Fatus Games & Independent Multiplayer ConsultantPaolo is an 11-year experienced game developer in the multiplayer field. Former CEO of StarworkGC S.R.L, the 50-people gaming studio that developed Hunt For Gods, he's now the Lead Engineer of Ariokan, the Technical lead of Unity's official Small Scale Competitive Multiplayer Template and a consultant for Indie and AA studios that work on multiplayer games.
Peter Vesterbacka
Finest Future
Peter Vesterbacka
Finest FuturePeter Vesterbacka is an entrepreneur from the Finest Bay Area based in Helsinki, Finland. Branded communities co-created and initiated by Peter include the HP Bazaar, Mobile Monday, Slush and Startup Sauna to name a few. He was the Mighty Eagle at Angry Birds for many years taking that brand to unprecedented heights. In 2011 Time Magazine named Peter one of the 100 most influential people on the planet. Right now Peter is building the Finest Future in the Finest Bay Area
Piyush Bathla
Global esports
Piyush Bathla
Global esportsHe's been immersed in the world of esports since 2019, turning his passion for competitive gaming into a career as a professional caster. There’s nothing quite like the rush of calling a match, breaking down the plays, and feeling the excitement alongside the fans. Esports isn’t just a job for me—it’s where my heart is. He loves connecting with the community, sharing the highs and lows of every game, and constantly learning from the ever-evolving scene.
Pradeep Gupta
Gameberry Labs
Pradeep Gupta
Gameberry LabsFounding Team member at Gameberry Labs. With more than 5M Daily Active Users we at Gameberry are transforming how digital tabletop game experiences can connect people together. We are on a mission to connect folks around the world using Tabletop games one round at a time
Pranab Punj
Xsolla
Pranab Punj
XsollaPranab is the Strategic Advisor for APAC at Xsolla (USA), Inc., focusing on India and South Asia. Pranab is a pioneer in the India/South Asia games industry, with many first's like Ragnarok Online (India’s first AAA MMORPG) and Zapak.com (India's first homegrown games brand), Ben10 Omniverse: Rise of Heroes (MMO), Cartoon Network, Pogo & Nickelodeon universe of game IP's to name a few.
Prateek Jadhwani
Destroyer Doggo
Prateek Jadhwani
Destroyer DoggoPrateek is the solo developer behind Destroyer Doggo, a Hyderabad-based game studio. He successfully launched Brocula, a game available on both Steam and Xbox. His achievements also include winning the Developer Acceleration Grant from Xbox. With considerable experience in the game development industry, Prateek is dedicated to creating unique and engaging gaming experiences.
Pratik Basu
AppsFlyer
Pratik Basu
AppsFlyerPratik is the Head of New Business at Appsflyer India, with a decade of experience in the adtech and martech ecosystem. He has worked closely with numerous companies including homegrown gaming studios, helping drive growth and innovation in the industry. His enthusiasm for the gaming community is evident as he returns to IGDC for the fourth time, excited to engage with industry peers and explore new partnerships.
Pratik Poddar
Nexus Venture Partners
Pratik Poddar
Nexus Venture Partners
Pratik is a partner at Nexus Venture Partners, working with the firm since ~10 years. He leads investments in consumer, gaming, financial services, education spaces. He represents the firm in Turtlemint, Rapido, Pratilipi, Whitehat Jr, Urbanic, Quizizz, Allo Health, Zet, and Mudrex, and gaming companies like IndiGG, Liquid Nitro Games, and Brightpoint Games. Prior to joining Nexus, he was an entrepreneur and built social commerce and content marketing companies. Prior, he worked at Blackstone Private Equity and Morgan Stanley Quant group. He completed his Bachelors degree in Computer Science and Engineering from IIT Bombay.
Priya Jathar
AWS
Priya Jathar
AWSPriya is a Senior Solutions Architect working in the Media, Entertainment and Games vertical at AWS India. She has more than two decades of IT experience, with deep expertise in Cloud technologies, App Migration & Modernisation, Application Development, Databases, Analytics and Machine Learning. She is a builder who enjoys innovating with cutting-edge technologies to achieve business outcomes. Currently she’s helping digital native customers innovate with Generative AI. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, gardening and cooking.
Priya Karnik
Pay3
Priya Karnik
Pay3Priya Karnik is the Co-Founder and CEO of Pay3, a provider of innovative global payment solutions that empower gamers and gaming businesses worldwide. Leveraging a deep understanding of local payment methods, Pay3 simplifies transactions and enhances the gaming experience. With a diverse background in financial services, Priya brings extensive corporate and entrepreneurial expertise. Her career includes significant roles at Citibank where she held global and regional positions and Paytm. Prior to founding Pay3, Priya established Dvara Money to deliver digital financial services to the urban newly banked. She has also volunteered for iSPIRT, a renowned technology think tank behind India Stack and UPI.
Priya Narasimhan
Indus Appstore
Priya Narasimhan
Indus AppstorePriya Narasimhan is the Chief Business Officer of Indus Appstore - An App Store by the PhonePe Group. She has led multiple businesses in her 7-year stint at PhonePe including leading Recharge & Bill Payments category to its market-leading position, building out the Online Payments business and establishing the PhonePe Ads business. Prior to PhonePe, Priya has worked in the financial services sector across reputed banks including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and Standard Chartered Bank spanning M&A, Global markets and core banking businesses for a decade. Priya received her Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from the National University of Singapore and MBA (PGDM) from the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Priya Thiagarajan
Firstsource
Priya Thiagarajan
FirstsourcePriya Thiagarajan is a seasoned professional in the gaming industry, currently serving as Co-Founder and COO at Applibot India. With extensive experience in game development and production, Priya has been instrumental in leading teams and managing projects that bring innovative gaming experiences to life. Known for her strategic approach and dedication, she has contributed significantly to the growth of the Indian gaming ecosystem, inspiring and supporting emerging talent in the industry.
Priyanka Singh
Digital Turbine
Priyanka Singh
Digital TurbinePriyanka is a dynamic and results-driven professional with a proven track record in leading high-performing sales and driving revenue growth in the digital advertising industry. With expertise in strategic partnerships and innovative ad solutions, she excels in new business and customer success roles.
Puneet Manuja
YourDOST
Puneet Manuja
YourDOSTPuneet Manuja, CoFounder of YourDOST, leads India's largest emotional wellness platform that has impacted over 2 million lives since 2015. An IIM-Bangalore MBA and NIT Calicut Gold Medalist, his journey spans roles at McKinsey, D.E. Shaw & Co., and Zynga. Recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30, Puneet drives YourDOST’s mission of making mental health care accessible and affordable across India. Combining his expertise as a game developer with his passion for mental health and wellness, he champions 'Responsible Gaming' - advocating for awareness around gaming's psychological impact while working towards creating a mentally healthier India.
Rachit Rastogi
Blast+
Rachit Rastogi
Blast+Rachit leads M-League's dedicated Free-to-Play Publishing arm, Blast+. Rachit is one of the founding members of Mobile Premier League (MPL), India's Leading Skill Gaming Platform. Before Blast+, he led Product Design at MPL from Day 1 and was responsible for driving the day-to-day execution of MPL’s core operations as SVP of Product Design. He has a rich history of building consumer products for the Indian market over the past 15 years and has closely seen the Indian Gaming market evolve.
Rahul Sehgal
Gamer2maker
Rahul Sehgal
Gamer2maker
Rahul is a game industry veteran with 15+ years’ experience shipping games on platforms such as Console, PC, Mobile and Browser. He is the founder of Gamer2maker.com- an online Game development, mentorship and finishing school, and has been teaching people how to make games for the last 14 years.
Rajdeep Paul
Unreal Engine
Rajdeep Paul
Unreal EngineRajdeep Paul, an Unreal Authorized Instructor with 9 years of experience in real-time 3D, has developed visual content for brands like Titan, BMW, and ISRO. Currently working with clients such as Ford, UFC, Nissan, Estée Lauder, and Fanatics, he specializes in VR applications and real-time 3D visualization, having trained over 8,000 professionals across various industries in Unreal Engine.
Ranbeer Hora
GodSpeed Games
Ranbeer Hora
GodSpeed GamesRanbeer Hora is the Founder and CEO of GodSpeed Games, a leading provider of Game Development, QA, Porting, and Live Services. They are also publishers for leading IP's on Mobile and Consoles. With years of experience in the gaming industry, he has contributed to the growth of the Indian gaming ecosystem, working with both indie studios and major developers worldwide. Ranbeer is passionate about gaming and ensuring that games deliver exceptional user experiences. As a thought leader, he frequently shares insights on the gaming industry, entrepreneurship, and the future of game development.
Raunaq Roy
Hungama Digital Media
Raunaq Roy
Hungama Digital MediaRaunaq has been leading Hungama’s gaming business since 2013, Hungama Gameshastra is a joint venture between Hungama and Gameshastra. She manages the celebrity and movie partnerships for Hungama’s multiple digital products and extensions. She has been a part of the Bollywood Hungama leadership and content team since 2009. Raunaq is a Women in Games Ambassador and prioritises Mentoring with Aspire for Her, Soho House Asia’s Mumbai Mentoring Week and Google Play Appscale Academy. She leads the Hungama Game Changers platform at Hungama celebrating and amplifying women in entertainment across music, movies and gaming.
Raviteja Manthena
1312 Interactive
Raviteja Manthena
1312 InteractiveRavi Manthena is the Founder and CEO of 1312 Interactive, a game development studio known for creating innovative and engaging gaming experiences. With a deep passion for interactive entertainment and technology, Ravi leads the company’s creative vision, focusing on delivering high-quality games that resonate with global audiences. His entrepreneurial journey is marked by a strong commitment to pushing the boundaries of game design and user experience. Under his leadership, 1312 Interactive has grown into a respected name in the gaming industry, known for blending creativity with cutting-edge technology. Ravi’s expertise in both business and game development, along with his forward-thinking approach, continues to drive the company’s growth and success in an ever-evolving market.
Ritika Chatterjee
Mayhem Studios
Ritika Chatterjee
Mayhem StudiosRitika is a corporate lawyer with almost a decade of experience working in Tier A law firms in India and as an in-house counsel of Mayhem Studios - a studio building AAA title battle royale game. In her experience, she has worked extensively on M&A, PE, acquisitions, general corporate advisory and acted in over encompassing management capacities related to legal and investor relations. Working in the gaming ecosystem for last 5 years, she has seen the legal space around this sector evolve very closely in the past few years. Having tackled with many facets of IP, contracts, taxation, foreign exchange, data protection laws etc in this sector, its been a great learning experience and am very excited about the emerging ecosystem.
Roby John
Super Gaming
Roby John
Super GamingRoby is the CEO and CoFounder of SuperGaming, a 180 person games studio based in Pune,India and supported by investors like A16Z, Bandai Namco, 1UpFund and SkyCatcher. SuperGaming is building Indus, a Battle Royale Shooter themed in an Indo-Futuristic setting that folks have called the “Wakanda of India”. Indus has been in development for 3 years and soft launched recently in India.
Ryan Trowbridge
Respawn Entertainment
Ryan Trowbridge
Respawn EntertainmentRyan Trowbridge is the Tech Art Director at Respawn Entertainment on Apex Legends. During his 24 year career in video games, he has enjoyed the intersection of creativity and engineering. Early in his career he worked at Pipeworks Software and shipped several games, including Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters for Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube platforms. His contributions included texturing, modeling, animation, and rigging. Later in his career he joined Naughty Dog as a character technical artist. He focused on pushing the limits of character rigs and tools for the creative teams. He contributed work to Uncharted 1-4 and The Last of Us. While working on Uncharted 4 he directed the rebuilding of the facial pipeline to raise the bar of facial animation. While working at Naughty Dog he co-authored and published the book titled, Maya Python for Games and Film. Ryan then joined Sony Bend as the Tech Art Director and led the tech art team on Days Gone. He directed animation, VFX, lighting, shading, rigging, and pipeline tool teams. Creating quality and performant systems that could scale across an open world game. Next Ryan joined Microsoft as the Tech Art Director for The Initiative on the Perfect Dark game. While still at Microsoft he went on to join 343 Industries and took on the role as Studio Tech Art Director working on Halo.
Saaket Sharma
PropVR
Saaket Sharma
PropVRSaaket Sharma, an architect and two-time entrepreneur, is the Vice President of Product & Growth at PropVR. He has founded both Studio Chitrakar, a premier visualization studio, and twinnle, a pioneering digital twin search and discovery platform. With expertise in 3D visualization, digital twins, and immersive technologies, Saaket is at the forefront of innovation in real estate, pushing boundaries in how technology enhances the industry.
Sadiq Ahamed
Lysto
Sadiq Ahamed
LystoSadiq is the founder of Lysto, a gaming platform enabling "Growth for Games and Rewards for Gamers" and funded by leading VC firms like Square Peg, Beenext, Hashed, Tiger Global and leading angels from the industry. As a founding team member at Qwikcilver—the largest gift card and prepaid SaaS platform in Asia—he played key roles in launching and expanding the online gift card and prepaid business in India & SE Asia, guiding multiple investment rounds with top VC firms like Accel, Helion, Amazon, and Sistema. Qwikcilver was acquired by Pine Labs (backed by Sequoia, Temasek, PayPal, and Actis), in one of the largest B2B exits for an Indian startup. Previously Sadiq was the founder of Crewhunt & Shunya.
Saikat Mondal
Nazara Technologies
Saikat Mondal
Nazara TechnologiesAcquisitions at Nazara Technologies, a gaming and sports media leader. With a sharp pulse on market dynamics, Saikat possesses deep insights into the gaming industry and drives strategic growth through M&A. He has been pivotal in expanding Nazara's global reach and strengthening its portfolio, leveraging his expertise in deal-making and integration. His industry knowledge and strategic vision make him a key player in shaping the business landscape for gaming and interactive entertainment.
Samarth Hattangady
Chapliboy
Samarth Hattangady
ChapliboySamarth Hattangady is a game developer based in Bangalore, India. He likes making games that create joy by exploring simple systems and realizing emergent interactions. He was selected as a part of the 2022 Draknek New Voices Puzzle Grant, and was an Astra Fellow in the year 2023. He developed Konkan Coast Pirate Solutions, a cozy puzzle game about helping pirate ships do pirate things, available on Steam.
Samuel James Fisher
Hyper Hippo Entertainment
Samuel James Fisher
Hyper Hippo Entertainment
As CEO of Hyper Hippo Entertainment, Sam focuses on fostering talent, creativity, and growth across the company’s global portfolio. As an active leader in the Games Industry, Sam advocates for entertainment’s transformative potential and its ability to build strong communities. He leads with the belief that Hyper Hippo is not just building games but great positive experiences for players everywhere, guiding the team to create successful games through his strategic leadership.
Sanath Nambyar
Small World Games
Sanath Nambyar
Small World GamesSanath Nambyar began his journey as a content writer for Roblox games. Over time, he transitioned to front-end development, focusing on visual effects (VFX) and UI/UX design. He has worked on both Roblox games and the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN), honing his skills in designing and implementing engaging user interfaces and visual elements. Currently, Sanath is deeply involved in creating games using UEFN, with a primary focus on enhancing user experiences.
Sandeep Pandey
Games 24x7
Sandeep Pandey
Games 24x7Sandeep is a seasoned technology professional with over 12 years of experience in the software industry. Currently serving as a Senior Engineering Manager at games24x7, he brings a wealth of knowledge in leading and scaling engineering teams. Outside of work, he enjoys staying active by running, and cherishes quality time with his daughter.
Sanjay Soni
Nazara Technologies Limited
Sanjay Soni
Nazara Technologies LimitedWith over 2 decades in tech and mobile gaming, I lead technology at Nazara Group, driving AI-driven innovation and establishing Centers of Excellence across our companies. My journey from programmer to leader fuels my commitment to blending technology with creativity to deliver impactful user experiences. I’m passionate about mentoring developers to see beyond code and embrace the art of innovation.
Santosh Rao
Stellarplay Games
Santosh Rao
Stellarplay GamesSantosh Rao is the founder CEO of casual mobile gaming studio, Stellarplay Games. He was previously heading Zynga's India studio out in Bangalore. He is in love with how games connect people from around the world and with Stellarplay is looking to contribute to upping the craftsmanship of Indian gaming.
Saumya Singh Rathore
WinZO
Saumya Singh Rathore
WinZOSaumya Singh Rathore is the Co-founder of WinZO, India's largest vernacular social gaming platform with over 200 million registered users. Saumya is one of the tech industry’s few female founders. In 2021, she received the ‘Women Entrepreneurship Award’ from BW Disrupt, a Business World platform that promotes young entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas. Keenly interested in generating memorable gaming experiences, Saumya is always on the lookout for novel ideas that can grow the interactive gaming ecosystem. She has established a$50 million Developer Fund at WinZO to fund and promote gaming, game technology and web3 projects around the world.
Saurabh Jethani
Karmaratha Studio
Saurabh Jethani
Karmaratha StudioKarmaratha studio is a game development company dedicated to crafting immersive and captivating video games inspired by the epic lore of Bharat. Rooted in rich cultural tapestry of ancient Bharat, our mission at Karmaratha is to bring to life the legendary tales, heroes, and mythical realms through cutting edge gaming experience.
Shagun Shah
Zynga & BYJUs | IGDC | LSE
Shagun Shah
Zynga & BYJUs | IGDC | LSEHe is a game designer, he have worked across PC and mobile, in both 0-1 product development and live ops. His core strengths are narrative and systems design (math and English! Double threat!), robust tool knowledge, being able to effectively disseminate knowledge across teams, and managing feedback and iteration. Games cannot be made in silos; he is a people person and a staunch believer in collaborative design. As an ecosystem enabler, he is an organizer and content curator at the India Game Developer Conference. he spent some time on the business of games, where I enabled a new wave of founders prove that Indians can and do make great games.
Shailja Mittal
Moonfrog
Shailja Mittal
MoonfrogShailja Mittal is a seasoned growth marketing and user acquisition (UA) expert with over a decade of experience driving the success of mobile products across multiple industries in India and Global markets. About five years back, her gaming journey started at Zynga (Take-Two), and she is currently heading Growth Marketing at Moonfrog - one of the leading gaming companies in India and part of Sweden based Stillfront. With hands-on expertise in building and optimizing full-stack marketing strategies, marketing teams and operations from ground up, Shailja is focussed on spearheading projects that balance global game growth with sustainable profitability.
Shalaka Sontakke
Electronic Arts
Shalaka Sontakke
Electronic ArtsI am Shalaka, a game designer, and I am currently working in Electronic Arts on NFS No Limits. I aspire to work on different media or games to grow as a designer and a creative individual. I have more than 5 years of experience in live ops and have shipped multiple successful features that have positively impacted the business throughout my five years in the industry. The crown jewel game in my portfolio is the Word Search Explorer Game at Playsimple Games. I worked on it from scratch and it turned out to be a massive hit. My strengths lie in data collection, research, and generating insights coherent with the player's needs and the market. I am adept at presenting them with well-informed ideas and solutions. I like to express myself through drawings in my free time. Traveling has immensely impacted my art, life, and design perspective. I want to travel the world to taste all the delicacies out there!
Shaleen Agarwal
Transmedia Strategy Consultant
Shaleen Agarwal
Transmedia Strategy ConsultantA polymath with a creative bent to things, serving across Multi-industry, Multi-Functional roles at different stages of companies ranging from a 0-1 to an MNC outfit, Shaleen started his career in advertising at Dentsu in the Digital space. This was followed by operating in the music business where he worked across running venue operations, domestic and global artist bookings, IP curation & Festival programming. Later on he joined Skillbox - A music tech startup as their Head of Business & Ticketing where he helped them scale from a 1 city to the 3rd largest ticketing platform in India. Entering the startup circuit, he went on in building India’s 1st gamified Metaverse Loka as a founding member. Being the leading metaverse in the country, he went to execute India’s biggest metaverse execution there at the time for BoAt’s FloatVerse amongst other successful brand executions. Shaleen then, via his own life experiences and research for over 3 years, went on to study and trace the connection between science, trauma, spirituality and the body. Being a strong advocate of modernizing / updating the leadership and value creation manual, He now combines Business, Creative and Trauma/Mental health informed approach in mentoring & consulting/partnering with creatives, founders, brands and startups on how to scale their IPs and build Transmedia strategy businesses with a strong sense of commercial strength intertwined with a sustainable and authentic manner as possible.
Sharanya Sahai
Hashed Emergent
Sharanya Sahai
Hashed EmergentSharanya Sahai is a Senior Associate in the Investment Team at Hashed Emergent, a venture capital arm of Hashed, backing early-stage start-ups and builders from India and emerging markets shaping the on-chain frontier. In this role, Sharanya is responsible for sourcing and evaluating early-stage investment opportunities in the blockchain ecosystem. With a keen eye for promising ventures, he actively manages portfolios and supports fundraising efforts. His contributions extend beyond the investment role, having participated in high-profile panel discussions, alongside industry leaders from Sequoia and Multicoin Capital. In addition to his professional achievements, Sharanya is deeply committed to social impact. He is a Founding Trustee of Kayakalp, an organization dedicated to empowering underserved communities. Since its start in 2012, Kayakalp has performed over 2,000 shows across India for a range of organizations, including the Indian Ministry of Culture, the UN, and even Delhi Metro. Sharanya is not only focused on growing companies but also committed to making a difference. Sharanya's unique combination of investment expertise, thought leadership, and passion for social good makes him a respected voice in the investment community, particularly in the emerging blockchain sector.
Shashank Malhotra
Google Play, India
Shashank Malhotra
Google Play, IndiaShashank Malhotra, , is a seasoned digital marketing and consulting professional, currently leading Google Play's efforts to empower top global game developers in India. With over 12 years of experience, Shashank's expertise lies in navigating the dynamic app developer ecosystem and unlocking India's immense growth potential. His passion for the industry and proven track record make him a driving force in the mobile app landscape.
Shashwath Rao
Meta India
Shashwath Rao
Meta India13 years of work experience across varied sectors like Tech-Telco, Entertainment, Education and Gaming. Currently part of Meta India's Global Business Group (GBG), responsible for scaling & sustaining profitable growth by partnering with India's leading Gaming advertisers.
Shayne Hayes
IGDA Climate SIG
Shayne Hayes
IGDA Climate SIGShayne Hayes is a Co-Chair of the International Game Developers Association Climate Special Interest Group (IGDA Climate SIG), an online community of game developers who are passionate about sustainability and climate action in the games industry. Shayne recently worked with the Atlantic Council's Arsht-Rock Resilience Center to publish Heat Wave Survival and Power Grid Hero for Minecraft Education. These free games built on Minecraft's platform help players understand how to stay safe during heat waves and other climate impacts by advocating for community-level action. Shayne developed additional social impact content for Minecraft Education, including Minecraft Hour of Code: Escape Estate, UNESCO's Minecraft Peace with Nature Challenge, and Minecraft Buildability. Shayne recently spoke at the 2024 Game Developers Conference Climate Crisis Workshop and Gamescom Latam's Journey stage about how games are uniquely positioned to equip players of all backgrounds with knowledge and skills around climate change that could be life-saving. If you're interested in being a part of a passionate community of developers who are taking action on climate change, join Shayne and others in the IGDA Climate SIG Discord server! bit.ly/joinclimatesig
Sho Sato
IGDA Incubation SIG
Sho Sato
IGDA Incubation SIGSho Sato is the CEO at LUDiMUS Inc., leading specialists group of international expansion for games industries. He is the co-founder and Secretary General at iGi, the only game incubation program in Japan, and the advisor for So-Fu game accelerator by Ministry of Economy in Japan. From this year, he is the chairman of SIG Incubation under International Game Developers Association, a working group for incubators and accelerators in 60 countries. He is an invited speaker at various international events for game developers in more than 20 countries.
Shravan PS
Datawrkz
Shravan PS
DatawrkzShravan is a seasoned innovator and strategist in Digital Advertising with over 12 years of deep industry experience. Starting his journey with pioneering monetization solutions at Ozone Media and Vdopia, Shravan went on to build and scale Datawrkz's monetization division, where he established a profitable and sustainable Business Model during Datawrkz's founding years. His journey then took him to InMobi, where he spearheaded agency sales in Malaysia, and subsequently to Amazon, where he was instrumental in expanding Amazon advertising solutions reach within high-potential "Growth Accounts" for U.S. sellers. Currently, following Datawrkz’s acquisition by Nazara, Shravan leads User Acquisition for titles such as Animal Jam, Ultimate Teen Patti, Classic Rummy, etc; and Agency initiatives for Indian advertisers at Datawrkz, where he continues to drive industry innovation and growth.
Shreyans Mehta
AppsFlyer
Shreyans Mehta
AppsFlyerShreyans Mehta heads the Customer Success at AppsFlyer India. With ten years of digital marketing experience, he has twice been recognised as a top 100 global customer success strategist. Specialising in Gaming, Retail, and Infotainment, Shreyans has a proven track record of helping advertisers achieve their desired outcomes.
Shrikant Sinha
TASK
Shrikant Sinha
TASKAs the CEO of TASK, his major role is enhancing the employability for the youth in Telangana under the Department of ITE&C, Government of Telangana. He has been responsible for onboarding Govt. degree colleges and polytechnics, multiple industry partners as well enhanced the offerings at TASK. his priority has been to increase focus on the rural areas of the state as well as to promote skilling and placement of girls and the underserved communities. With the onset of the COVID pandemic, he has been spearheading the transition of conventional training programs to virtual (online and blended) mode, and initiated several webinar series on various subjects. He is also an Executive Council Member for Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, one of India’s Leading Technical University. He is a Member of AVGC Sub Task Force for the Media and Entertainment Skill Council. He is also a Committee Member of FICCI, CII and SSD & Entrepreneurs.
Shrungar Dadarkar
Scopely Inc
Shrungar Dadarkar
Scopely IncWith nearly two decades spent navigating the creative and entertainment industry, I have had the privilege of leading and collaborating with diverse teams to craft innovative and captivating products. My journey has been greatly enriched by my background in Art, Film, and Business studies, which provides me with a unique perspective. This blend enables me to creatively integrate technology insights, storytelling, and strategic business thinking into comprehensive strategies that drive success and innovation. My focus has increasingly been on the realms of Generative AI and Traditional Machine Learning. By exploring these advanced technologies, I aim to develop smarter, inventive solutions that genuinely enrich our audience's experience and deliver tangible value to our company. At my core, I'm genuinely fueled by a curiosity for learning and the thrill of exploring new frontiers where advanced technology, storytelling, and thoughtful business strategy come together, all with the aim of enhancing future human experiences.
Shubham Rajanwar
Mad Mantra Games
Shubham Rajanwar
Mad Mantra GamesA bit about myself, I've been developing games with unity for 5 years now, worked for few years in Pune and then moved to germany. I started ‘MadMantra’ in Aug 2023. Kamla was our first project, a survival horror for pc which become the most popular game in India very fast after release. We aim to keep making more dark/horror games as we move forward. Our primary platforms are PC/Consoles. India is on its way to become like China when it comes to games in next few decades. We want to be a major part of that journey!
Shylaja Rao
Ventana Ventures
Shylaja Rao
Ventana VenturesShylaja Rao is the General Partner of Ventana Ventures, a venture capitalist firm that backs passionate gaming founders in their Pre-seed and seed stages. With the goal of building a vibrant gaming ecosystem in India, Shylaja and her team brought together a community of game founders who can collaborate, learn, and grow. At Ventana, she focuses on a “team of teams” approach where start-ups of any size can support one another in creating the next generation of compelling gaming IPs. She firmly believes that in this ever-evolving gaming industry, a small, dedicated team has as much potential as an established company.
Siddharth Mehta
Google Play, India
Siddharth Mehta
Google Play, IndiaSiddhartha, a seasoned leader with 16 years of experience in the gaming industry. He currently heads Domestic Games at Google Play India and is passionate about growing the Indian gaming ecosystem. Previously, Sid led gaming expansion across six South Asian countries for a leading Indian financial super app based out of India. His career includes consulting for Fortune 500 companies at firms like Kearney and PwC, where he tackled CXO-level challenges across the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. Sid brings a wealth of knowledge and a global perspective to his current role
Siddhesh C Meher
Gamersroof
Siddhesh C Meher
GamersroofSiddhesh Meher is an accomplished leader in the fields of game development, virtual reality (VR), and critical applications. As the CEO of Gamersroof, he has spearheaded numerous successful projects, including games and AR / VR experience for brands and at high-traffic locations.His passion for creating immersive experiences and exploring innovative solutions has driven Gamersroof’s growth and reputation.
Sreekant Lanka
Government of Telangana
Sreekant Lanka
Government of TelanganaSreekant Lanka is a seasoned global executive with leadership roles in different functional areas with Fortune 500 companies. He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at the Ministry of IT E&C, Government of Telangana, with remit over policy, AI city, startups and decentralized growth. Additionally, he is the founder of an AI first marketing firm building next generation models to solve performance marketing challenges for global clients.
Sridhar Muppidi
YesGnome
Sridhar Muppidi
YesGnomeSridhar Muppidi is the Co-Founder of Yesgnome, a vibrant gaming company renowned for creating captivating mobile games. With extensive expertise in game development and industry leadership, Sridhar has been instrumental in driving Yesgnome's growth by delivering innovative experiences to a global audience. As President of the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), he combines his passion for gaming with a strategic business approach, empowering developers and advancing India's gaming industry through initiatives like IGDC and other key industry efforts
Subash Chaitanya K
Moonfrog
Subash Chaitanya K
MoonfrogSubash worked across Product roles in Gaming and E-commerce for the past 11 years. Prior to that, he had worked in B2B Sales & Engineering as well. Subash currently manages Card & Board games in Moonfrog spreading fun to players in India, LATAM & Tier-1 countries.
Sudhir Kamath
Nazara Technologies
Sudhir Kamath
Nazara TechnologiesSudhir Kamath is the Chief Operating Officer of Nazara Technologies. Nazara is India’s only listed gaming company, with interests in multiple gaming studios, esports, sports content, and adtech. Nazara had a successful IPO in 2021 and has consistently grown revenues while maintaining strong profitability. He is a Computer Science graduate from the Delhi Institute of Technology and a post-graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is an established leader who has built high-performing teams across businesses and brings deep operating expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a wide network of relationships in the gaming world.
Sumedha Mahajan
Ampverse DMI
Sumedha Mahajan
Ampverse DMIWith a rich blend of talent, experience, and innovation, Sumedha stands out in the marketing field. Backed with a decade-long career, her work is marked by a deep understanding of marketing nuances and audience dynamics, enabling her to craft groundbreaking campaigns and big ideas that set new industry standards. At Ampverse DMI, Sumedha she is leading the India Marketing chapter, crafting strategies that resonate with a diverse audience, fostering a culture of innovation and excitement around esports and gaming, while scaling and setting up the brand.
Sumit Mehra
MHXP
Sumit Mehra
MHXPSumit has over 2 decades of video games experience with companies like Zynga, Microsoft Game Studios, Moonfrog Labs to name a few. In 2023 he decided to start his own company; marrying spatial computing and gamification principles to solve for real estate businesses.
Supantha Paul
LavaPoint Games
Supantha Paul
LavaPoint GamesSupantha Paul is a professional software engineer experienced in building highly scalable cloud-native platforms and microservices. During his education in computer science, he found his love for game development and has also freelanced for multiple mobile AR/VR games since then. Driven by his love for narrative-driven games, Supantha founded LavaPoint Games with a vision to push the boundaries of interactive storytelling, creating an experience that resonates with players on a personal level. LavaPoint Games recently announced its debut title, Abashed, a thought-provoking game that explores universal themes such as love, loss, fear, and acceptance.
Tara Phillips
Keywords Studios
Tara Phillips
Keywords StudiosAs the Director of Art Services within Keywords Studios' Create Division, Tara drives strategic growth initiatives to align with global objectives. Embracing innovation in emerging technology and tools, Tara oversee Keywords' Art Studios, fostering creativity and collaboration within these teams. In working closely with development partners, she champions the professional art services and development capabilities of the teams, establishing Keywords Studios as the premier global gaming partner. With a global perspective on the game industry, a storied background in production, and a strategic approach to partnerships, Tara actively listens, learns, and collaborates to bring the right expert voices to the table. Building and managing relationships with game development partners fuels her passion for delivering the best solutions and services possible to an industry she loves.
Taruna Arora
Keywords Studios India
Taruna Arora
Keywords Studios IndiaTaruna holds 20+ years of experience in People and Culture roles. The last 7 years have been in the gaming industry and prior in IT/ITes industries. As the Country Manager – People and Culture for Keywords India and Lakshya, Taruna is responsible for over 1000 employees spanning 4 service lines and 3 studios (in Gurgaon, Pune and Bangalore). She is passionate about: Nurturing Talent, Building Engaged High-Performance Teams and Fostering Diverse and Inclusive Cultures. As a Steering Committee member of IGDC Women in Games, India, and an Individual Ambassador for Women in Games (WIG) she actively advocates for diversity and inclusion, aiming to inspire women at all career levels to join and thrive in the gaming industry She has launched within Keywords India internship programs and mentorship schemes to empower women and also led initiatives to ensure diversity practices are followed in talent acquisition, furthering our commitment to creating an inclusive gaming industry. In her personal life, she enjoys counseling people, listening to their stories patiently, and offering suggestions or guidance based on her experiences. Also, she is a practitioner of Pranic Healing and finds solace in meditation She firmly believe in lifelong learning and is dedicated to personal and professional growth.
Terry Lee
Fusebox Games
Terry Lee
Fusebox GamesTerry is the Chief Operating Officer at Fusebox Games, bringing over 16 years of experience in the games and tech industry. Specializing in intellectual property (IP)-based games, Terry has played a key role in developing games for some of the world's most recognized IPs, including Formula 1, Transformers, Tomb Raider, Angry Birds, NASCAR, Monopoly, and Star Wars. With a strong focus on mobile free-to-play games, Terry has a proven track record of creating engaging, player-centric experiences. Beyond gaming, Terry expanded his expertise by working in fintech and at the health tech company Flo, further enhancing his strategic and operational capabilities. Terry’s strengths lie in aligning creative vision with business strategy, driving successful partnerships, and delivering engaging user experiences.
Tim Morten
Frost Giant Studios
Tim Morten
Frost Giant StudiosTim Morten is the CEO and co-founder of Frost Giant Studios. He was previously the Production Director of StarCraft II, and he's excited to now be working on a new real-time strategy game called Stormgate. Tim got his start in the game industry in 1994 at Activision, and subsequently helped lead development teams at Electronic Arts and Blizzard.
Tomoharu Urabe
MIXI Global Investments
Tomoharu Urabe
MIXI Global InvestmentsTomoharu (Haru) Urabe is a Principal Partner at MIXI Global Investments (MGI), the corporate venture capital arm of MIXI, Inc. MGI primarily invests in startups across the Digital Entertainment, Lifestyle, and Sports sectors, with a focus on India and global markets. Tomoharu brings a wealth of experience to his role, having previously founded a startup in the IT/Education sector and worked at renowned gaming studios such as Riot Games.
Vaibhav Chavan
underDOGS Gaming Studio
Vaibhav Chavan
underDOGS Gaming StudioFounder and CEO at underDOGS. Over 17 years in the gaming industry wearing multiple hats from being a Game Designer, Game producer, Game Director to a founder, I have grown as an entrepreneur running a sustainable gaming business. Been spearheading underDOGS gaming studio for 13 years, recently won Sony Playstation's India Hero Project to build an exploration indie title for PS5 and PC . Recognised in the industry for my work, making games and mentoring over 30000 game dev enthusiasts via my Youtube and Linkedin. Been a speaker at more than 15 domestic and international events.
Vamil Doshi
Nazara
Vamil Doshi
NazaraVamil has Over 14 years of experience in the gaming industry. Created the Street Cricket franchise for PlayStation. 3 hit mobile games in the global top 10 in the year 2022 which included Dessert DIY and The President. Previously worked in companies such as Disney, Kwalee and CrazyLabs. Currently looking for Games to Publish in India.
Vandana Goyal
MGGAMES
Vandana Goyal
MGGAMESVandana is the Founder of MGGAMES, a game studio based in Noida, and a dedicated woman entrepreneur with a deep passion for gaming and technology. Her journey has turned MGGAMES into a well-known game development company with a global reach, especially recognized for its casual card and casino games. Vandana’s skills cover everything from game analysis and development to creating effective ASO strategies, making her both a strong business strategist and a hands-on developer. With a natural talent for leadership, Vandana combines her technical knowledge with a commitment to client satisfaction. She has developed end-to-end solutions using tools like Photon, Firebase, and Node.js, ensuring smooth gameplay and a solid backend for her games. MGGAMES offers complete game development services, from concept to launch, showing the team’s ability to create engaging and enjoyable player experiences.
Varsha Shivanagowda
Mobile Premier League
Varsha Shivanagowda
Mobile Premier LeagueA legal and policy professional with extensive experience working with product and design teams in the gaming sector, Varsha is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusivity in the gaming sector through frameworks that support innovation and growth. She joins this panel to share her insights on navigating the industry's evolving landscape.
Vignesh Raghuram
AFK Gaming
Vignesh Raghuram
AFK GamingVignesh Raghuram has nearly a decade of experience in gaming and esports journalism. As the Supervising Editor at AFK Gaming, Vignesh played a key role in the platform's exponential growth, expanding website traffic by over 28x in just 18 months and leading its transition to a subscription model. Vignesh’s expertise spans a broad range of topics, from business analysis of gaming ecosystems to the latest trends in esports, with a focus on data-driven insights and quality content.
Vijay Singh
Trophee Innovation & Technology Private Limited
Vijay Singh
Trophee Innovation & Technology Private LimitedVijay Singh, the Founder & CEO of Trophée, is pioneering a new era in gaming. As the world's first company to seamlessly merge online gaming and real-world's shopping, Trophée's Gaming Commerce is reshaping the industry. With 15+ years of experience and a track record of successful startups in Gaming, Advertising & Retail, Singh's leadership is driving Trophée's innovation. From NATIVV's acquisition to his roles at industry giants, Singh's expertise is propelling Trophée towards a future where gaming and commerce seamlessly intertwine.
Vijay Srinivasan
Hammerplay Studios
Vijay Srinivasan
Hammerplay StudiosVijay Srinivasan is a visionary gaming Entrepreneur with 18 years of experience in the Games Industry in varied streams like Game Art Production, Game Production and Management. Have been building Hammerplay as a premier games Studio for a decade now developing games for Web, Mobile and various emerging platforms. Deep experience in producing games on various platforms with significant expertise in creating original Game IP on Web and Mobile and offering external game development to global Studios.
Vikas Mishra
Google Cloud India
Vikas Mishra
Google Cloud IndiaVikas Mishra, a Google Cloud Architect and avid gamer, empowers India's leading game developers to create and scale games for millions worldwide. By partnering with studios, he leverages Google Cloud’s AI, cloud-native architectures, and SRE expertise to deliver high performance, reliability, and effortless scalability. Vikas’s extensive background spans enterprise and consumer products, with a consistent focus on open-source, cloud-first, innovative solutions
Vipasha Joshi
Creator Chronicles & Creator Coven
Vipasha Joshi
Creator Chronicles & Creator CovenVipasha Joshi is a Digital Marketing and Creator Economy Veteran. With 15 years of digital marketing expertise spanning six global landscapes and a myriad of industries, from eCommerce and beauty to travel and gaming, Vipasha has honed her skills at the intersection of innovation and strategy. At Google, Vipasha led diversity initiatives for India over five years, representing the country at major DEI summits and events, making a mark as a champion of inclusivity and representation in tech. Her voice resonates across stages, with keynote appearances at high-profile events like Nassummit, VidCon, and the Jellysmack Summit, as well as insightful contributions to podcasts such as HBL, Inc42, and Thrifty Titans. But gaming is where her passion truly shines. Vipasha has played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of APAC’s top gamers, empowering them to elevate their social presence and maximize monetization. Now, she’s setting the stage for a game-changing launch of a highly-anticipated AAA game in India( details still under wraps)
Vishal Parekh
CyberPowerPC
Vishal Parekh
CyberPowerPCMr Parekh brings a wealth of experience in the gaming and technology sectors, having previously held marketing leadership roles at NODWIN Gaming, Kingston, and HyperX. Mr. Parekh's role will focus on steering CyberPowerPC India's strategy to align with local market needs while maintaining the brand's global standards of innovation and quality. This will bolster CyberPowerPC’s mission to deliver state-of-the-art gaming systems across India.
Vivek Jha
Second Quest
Vivek Jha
Second QuestVivek is the CTO of Second Quest, India's first global simulation games company. With expertise in multiple game engines like Unity 3D, Godot, Game Maker, and Cocos Creator, I have hands-on experience delivering over 100 cross-platform titles in just 9+ years. I'm proud to have played a key role in building one of India's earliest metaverses. My passion for game development extends beyond the technical aspects. I am a driving force behind the Indian game developer community, actively leading initiatives like GameDev.in and Global Game Jam. My contributions to the industry have been recognized with prestigious accolades, including the IGDA Next-Gen Leader (2023) and a spot among the GI Top 100 Global Game Changers (2021).
Vlad Tsypljak
Neon Doctrine
Vlad Tsypljak
Neon Doctrine
Vlad is a former professional ballet dancer turned video game publisher and speaker. He started out managing QA teams at EA Games and Microsoft while still pursuing a career in dance. With a multilingual background, Vlad mastered the Chinese language by taking a Masters in Translation and Interpretation in China, where he co-founded Neon Doctrine, an international video game publisher that has launched over 20 games and sold millions of copies in the Asian region. Vlad regularly speaks at conferences across the globe on game publishing, community building, and the China market, and is committed to using games to tell stories from under-represented communities and facilitate cross-cultural communication.
Wasif Ahmed
Skyesports
Wasif Ahmed
SkyesportsWasif Ahmed leads public relations at Skyesports, overseeing communications for all its IPs and events across both B2B and consumer sectors. With extensive experience in gaming and esports journalism from his work with leading media outlets, he brings valuable industry insight to his role. Wasif;s expertise spans the full spectrum of PR strategies in the gaming ecosystem.
Wilhelm Taht
Scopely
Wilhelm Taht
ScopelyWilhelm Taht is a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in online, mobile, and social media industries. He currently serves as Scopely’s SVP and General Manager for its social casino studios and Bangalore operations. Since 2004, Wilhelm has held various roles in the mobile games sector, including sales, marketing, product, and general management. From 2016 to 2018, he successfully revitalized Rovio Entertainment's games division (the creators of Angry Birds) and played a key role in taking the company public as EVP of Games. Wilhelm also lends his expertise as an advisor and non-executive board member to several games and technology companies. He holds an M.Sc. in Economics from Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki.
Willem Delventhal
Indie Game Academy
Willem Delventhal
Indie Game AcademyWillem Delventhal is a game designer and business founder who specializes in UGC and Edtech. He also happens to daylight as a purple wizard helping people break into the game industry. Willem is on an eternal quest to create a world in which ALL game developers can financially support themselves by making games. He loves working on games in unusual and exploratory spaces, including a friendship first metaverse, scientific games for cats, and an AR dungeon crawling board game where an app acts as your dungeon master.
Yadu Rajiv
Second Quest
Yadu Rajiv
Second QuestYadu is an independent Game Designer and Developer. He is currently the Chief Creative Officer at Second Quest. Yadu has been building communities since 2008 and is building http://gamedev.in. Yadu is an Executive Committee for Global Game Jam and also a council member of the IndiaGDC. His work primarily revolves around the medium of games and interactive art; but he has donned multiple hats as a writer, educator and ux designer.
Yasaswy Sarma Veluri
5th Ocean Studios
Yasaswy Sarma Veluri
5th Ocean StudiosYasaswy Sarma Veluri is the Co-Founder of 5th Ocean Studios. With over 15 years of experience as a Chartered Accountant in the consulting space, Yasaswy made a bold career shift to pursue his passion for gaming. Driven by a lifelong dream to create games based on our mythology, he co-founded 5th Ocean Studios, where he and his team are currently developing their first title, "ILAVATH: Battle Arenas", a team-based strategy game designed for PC and console. 5th Ocean Studios has also been working on UEFN and publishing islands.
Yashash Agarwal
Gamezop
Yashash Agarwal
GamezopYashash is a co-founder at Gamezop. Gamezop is an HTML5 gaming company based in Gurgaon, entertaining over 45 million users each month. Gamezop also operates a suite of other digital content products: a quizzing product, Quizzop; an astrology product, Astrozop; a cricket product, Criczop; and a news product, Newszop. Yashash leads the product and tech functions at Gamezop.
Yasushi Komori
GFR Fund
Yasushi Komori
GFR FundYasushi is a General Partner at GFR Fund, based in the United States, where he leads investment initiatives across North America, Europe, and India. His primary focus is on Seed and Series A companies in sectors such as gaming, social media, the creator economy, consumer brands, fintech, and generative AI. With a solid background in product management, data analytics, and software development, Yasushi plays a crucial role in identifying emerging trends, technologies, and founders for potential investments. He began his career at GREE in 2010, where he enhanced his skills in data analytics and product management, leading several game titles as the head of game development in both the Japanese and U.S. markets. One of these titles achieved $50M in annual revenue. Before GREE, he worked at C.A. Mobile taking a pivotal role as a server-side engineer in the ground-up development of e-commerce sites. Yasushi earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Waseda University in Tokyo.
Zainuddeen Fahadh
Ogre Head Studio
Zainuddeen Fahadh
Ogre Head StudioZainuddeen Fahadh Firoz is a prominent figure in the Indian indie game development scene. He is the co-founder and a key creative force behind Ogre Head Studio, an independent game studio based in India. The studio is known for its games like Asura, which gained attention for its unique blend of Indian mythology and rogue-lite gameplay mechanics.
Zankhit Chawda
Small World Games
Zankhit Chawda
Small World GamesZankhit Chawda is the Founder and CEO of Small World Games. Zankhit started his journey at age 13, creating animations and later diving into YouTube, where he managed and built gaming channels that now total over 20 million subscribers and billions of views after making 1000's of videos and dropping out of high school to pursue his passions, he founded Small World Games with some of his best friends. Today, their games have amassed billions of plays, making them one of the largest, award-winning UGC game development studios in the world. Zankhit brings a unique blend of creativity, entrepreneurship, and community-driven game design, with insights into building massive online experiences from the ground up.
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