Enchant is launching a brand new zero-equity accelerator for gaming and AI startups, with purposes now open for its three-month program.
The accelerator is devoted to early-stage groups on the crossroads of gaming and synthetic intelligence. Based by veterans of Sony, Supercell, EA, Ubisoft and Playrix, the totally distant program provides founders hands-on product sprints, weekly one-on-one classes with {industry} leaders and direct entry to a world investor community — whereas letting each startup maintain one hundred pc of its cap-table.
Enchant backs corporations constructing video games, gaming-industry instruments, AI merchandise and Web3 experiences. By stripping away workplace necessities and fairness grabs, the accelerator concentrates on speedy product iteration, real-world traction and heat introductions to publishers, VCs and strategic companions, stated Eugenii Unegovskiy, cofounder of Enchant, in an interview with GamesBeat.
Rolling admission, private begin date
Enchant is taking purposes for its zero-equity accelerator.
This system is an intensive 12-week monitor that begins the day a group is accepted. Founders apply at any time when they’re prepared; there isn’t any want to attend for fastened cohorts. From day one, every firm follows a milestone roadmap that features product deep-dives, go-to-market workshops and Demo-Day preparation.
“Founders shouldn’t have to wait for a calendar slot,” stated Unegovskiy. “Acceptance triggers day-one sprints, live play-tests and build reviews shoulder-to-shoulder with veterans from triple-A studios. It’s real co-building, not classroom mentoring, and it means products hit the market in weeks, not months.”
“Zero-equity is a strong benefit, with an even bigger advantage being a clean cap table that helps early gaming and AI teams close future rounds faster,” added Aakash Parameswaran, CEO of Fable Fox, a former Sport Designer at Digital Arts and an professional in Enchant, in a press release. “From refining core loops to designing live-service economies, we work in the trenches so founders stay player-first and ship games investors can trust.”
Why zero-equity issues
Enchant is taking flat charges for its work.
Preserving the cap-table clear on the earliest stage helps founders retain management and keep extra enticing for future Seed and Collection A rounds, when dilution stakes are far bigger. It additionally lets Enchant function purely on the startup’s success, aligning incentives round product wins and fundraising milestones.
Functions are reviewed on a rolling foundation, and accepted groups can begin instantly. Unegovskiy stated that whereas working demo days for sport startups at Subscrible, he realized one thing essential: most early-stage founders don’t fail as a result of the product is weak — they fail as a result of the enterprise round it isn’t prepared. No go-to-market, no monetization technique, no clear thought how a lot cash they want — or why.
“That’s why I teamed up with folks from Supercell, Ubisoft, Sony, EA, King, Xsolla, and Oracle — many of whom I’m sure you know or have crossed paths with — along with the creators of Tetris, Angry Birds, and Cut the Rope, to launch Enchant, a new kind of accelerator for gaming and AI startups,” Unegovskiy stated.
With out cohorts or fairness, the corporate will present centered assist that helps founders transfer ahead.
“We help with pitch training, fundraising prep, GTM and monetization strategy, grant and UA support, legal and marketing guidance — plus access to tools, credits, and partner services worth over $500,000 (cloud credits, analytics, dev tools, etc.),” Unegovskiy stated. “It’s a simple model: small monthly fee + a success fee if we help a team raise or grow — no early dilution.”
The group consists of Tim Horton, an skilled gaming government with 16+ years in management, enterprise growth, and partnerships inside the world gaming {industry}. Horton helps optimize operations, drive development, and ship high-quality tasks in cellular gaming, triple-A artwork, console porting, and sport growth.
Sutton Trout makes a speciality of management/strategic partnerships/enterprise growth/aim attainment and income. He’s an action-oriented chief with 20 years of experiences in video games and leisure. He has labored at Supercell, Sony and WB Video games. And he helped with complicated tasks and main launches like Hogwarts Legacy.
Additionally on the group is Andrey Feinberg (Kuznetsov), former CIO at GDEV and Nexters. He has greater than 10 years of expertise in gaming, tech, and web industries. He helped closed 40+ offers value over $800 million, and he’s now an unbiased advisor centered on fundraising, M&A, and technique for gaming and interactive leisure corporations.
Unegovskiy is likely one of the specialists, as he’s a six-time founder with expertise in sport growth and AI. Different specialists embody Amir Shaked, Igor Diev, Jun Qian, Oded Lavie, Martin Hoszowski, Kevin Beardslee, Yosef Warburg, Wes Harris, Elvis Fernandes, Han Lee, Faisal Nazir, Tim Gerritsen, Hovav Shoshan, Igor Bazhanov, Cipto Adiguno, Casey Dickinson, Rosario Basilotta, Aakash Parameswaran, Mariam Japaridze and Eugene Volikov.
Enchant professional Aakash Parameswaran, CEO of Fable Fox.
By not taking a stake within the firm, Unegovskiy stated the corporate focuses on working side-by-side with founders to enhance all the pieces from pitch to income technique. It takes a flat month-to-month charge, plus a hit charge if it helps a group elevate cash or develop. The charge is often 5% to 10% of the raised quantity or a share of income development.
“We also reserve the right to invest in future rounds on founder-friendly terms — aligned withlong-term support, not short-term ownership,” stated Unegovskiy. He additionally stated mentors and advisserss are similiarly aligned to the startup’s success.
The main focus of video games and AI at Enchant.
The corporate simply opened purposes and are beginning to see a various mixture of early-stage founders — from sport studios to AI-tool builders, throughout a number of areas. A major share of curiosity is coming from tasks working on the intersection of gaming and AI — mixing artistic ambition with scalable infrastructure.
“We’re seeing strong indicators that the next wave of gaming startups will be deeply technical, globally minded, and looking for business-first support without early dilution,” Unegovskiy stated.
GB Day by day
An error occured.
