UKIE has introduced the Go To Market Academy, a business initiative supported by Discord, aimed at assisting early-stage independent developers

UKIE Go To Market Academy in partnership with Discord, on a dark blue background with abstract geometric patterns.

Image credit: UKIE/Discord

In collaboration with Discord and GameFlex, UKIE has launched the Go To Market Academy, a business initiative to support independent game studios based in the UK. The program is designed to furnish early-stage developers with the necessary resources to formulate go-to-market strategies and cultivate enduring communities.

The Academy's curriculum includes six online sessions covering areas such as diagnostics and insights, creating marketing strategies, executing campaigns, leveraging Discord for community building, and studio branding. There will also be participation from guest speakers from the industry.

This opportunity is available for 10 to 12 indie studios and will start with a face-to-face meeting at EGX during MCM Comic Con in London next month. Following this, online sessions will take place throughout November and the early part of December.

The conclusion of the program features another in-person event where the participating studios will present the market plans they've created through a shared case study worked on over the course of the program.

Studios interested in joining can submit their applications here. The deadline for applications is September 30, 2026.

UKIE CEO Nick Poole stated, "Many innovative games fail at the go-to-market stage, not due to a lack of creativity but because studios haven’t received the necessary support to build an audience and community." He highlighted that the Academy provides indie studios the opportunity to develop their strategies, with direct insights from Discord, a key platform for forming and growing gaming communities.

Mauro Sanna, Discord's director of public policy for EMEA, commented: "The UK's indie games sector is rich with talent and potential, and we’re thrilled to collaborate with UKIE to support its growth. We look forward to assisting this group of UK developers in utilizing Discord to engage with our active gaming community, foster communities, and expand their games."