adminThe Indie Games Collective is a free, year-long mentorship programme from London-based law firm Harbottle & Lewis for early-stage companies in the games industry. It will offer practical legal and business guidance on topics including incorporation, fundraising, commercial contracts, intellectual property (IP) and regulation. Applications close on Friday, January 23, and selected applicants will be notified by February 6.
Image credit: Harbottle & Lewis
What the Indie Games Collective offers
The programme’s main training period is scheduled to run from February through August 2026. Participants will receive at least five interactive online training sessions, with the wider programme extending across 12 months through access to a legal help desk.
Sessions will address issues that can arise as an independent studio is established and develops its business. The listed topics include setting up a company, seeking funding, managing commercial agreements, protecting intellectual property and understanding relevant regulation. These are areas where early planning can help a studio identify questions to discuss with qualified advisers.
As part of the offer, participants will also have access to template agreements covering some of the basic documents often needed by indie studios in their early stages. Templates can provide a useful starting point, but studios should check that any agreement suits their specific circumstances before relying on it.
Networking and programme events
Members will be invited to networking events to meet others in the games industry and exchange insights. The programme also includes the opportunity to attend an annual breakfast seminar on February 26 and a summer games mixer.
These events complement the online training by giving participants a chance to build professional connections. Applicants considering the programme may find it useful to think about the legal and business questions their studio is currently facing, so they can make the most of the sessions and conversations.
How to apply for the Indie Games Collective
Applications close on Friday, January 23. Harbottle & Lewis says it will inform successful applicants by February 6. The programme is free, but places are limited and will be allocated from the pool of applicants, so applying does not guarantee a place.
Applicants should check the programme information and submit their application before the stated deadline. Since the available details do not specify application requirements, prospective participants should refer to the organiser’s current information for any eligibility criteria or materials they need to provide.
Why the programme may be useful to indie studios
Independent developers often need to make business and legal decisions while building a game and a company at the same time. Guidance on finance, contracts, IP and regulation can help teams understand common considerations and identify when they may need tailored legal advice. The year-long format, training sessions, templates and help desk provide several ways for participants to engage with those topics.
Harbottle & Lewis has experience working in the games sector and has previously shared guidance on legal challenges associated with generative AI. For studios seeking structured support, the Indie Games Collective brings together training, legal resources and opportunities to connect with peers, subject to availability and selection.
