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 absolutely distant program offers 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 hold 100% 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 fast product iteration, real-world traction and heat introductions to publishers, VCs and strategic companions, mentioned 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 staff is accepted. Founders apply at any time when they’re prepared; there isn’t any want to attend for mounted 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 attend for a calendar slot,” mentioned Unegovskiy. “Acceptance triggers day-one sprints, stay play-tests and construct evaluations shoulder-to-shoulder with veterans from triple-A studios. It’s actual co-building, not classroom mentoring, and it means merchandise hit the market in weeks, not months.”
“Zero-equity is a robust profit, with a good larger benefit being a clear cap desk that helps early gaming and AI groups shut future rounds sooner,” added Aakash Parameswaran, CEO of Fable Fox, a former Recreation Designer at Digital Arts and an skilled in Enchant, in an announcement. “From refining core loops to designing live-service economies, we work within the trenches so founders keep player-first and ship video games traders can belief.”
Why zero-equity issues
Enchant is taking flat charges for its work.
Maintaining the cap-table clear on the earliest stage helps founders retain management and keep extra engaging for future Seed and Sequence 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 mentioned that whereas operating 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 concept how a lot cash they want — or why.
“That’s why I teamed up with people from Supercell, Ubisoft, Sony, EA, King, Xsolla, and Oracle — a lot of whom I’m certain you realize or have crossed paths with — together with the creators of Tetris, Indignant Birds, and Reduce the Rope, to launch Enchant, a brand new type of accelerator for gaming and AI startups,” Unegovskiy mentioned.
With out cohorts or fairness, the corporate will present centered assist that helps founders transfer ahead.
“We assist with pitch coaching, fundraising prep, GTM and monetization technique, grant and UA assist, authorized and advertising steering — plus entry to instruments, credit, and companion companies value over $500,000 (cloud credit, analytics, dev instruments, and many others.),” Unegovskiy mentioned. “It’s a easy mannequin: small month-to-month price + a hit price if we assist a staff increase or develop — no early dilution.”
The staff consists of Tim Horton, an skilled gaming govt with 16+ years in management, enterprise growth, and partnerships throughout the world gaming {industry}. Horton helps optimize operations, drive progress, and ship high-quality initiatives in cell gaming, triple-A artwork, console porting, and sport growth.
Sutton Trout focuses on management/strategic partnerships/enterprise growth/objective 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 initiatives and main launches like Hogwarts Legacy.
Additionally on the staff 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 impartial advisor centered on fundraising, M&A, and technique for gaming and interactive leisure corporations.
Unegovskiy is among the consultants, as he’s a six-time founder with expertise in sport growth and ai. Different consultants embody Amir shaked, igor diev, Jun Qion, Oded Lavie, Martin Hoszowski, Kevin Beardslee, Yosef Warburg, Wes Harris, Elvis Fernandes, han Lee, Faisal Nazir, Tim Gertsen, Hovav Shoshan, Igor Bazhanov, CIPTO ADDIGUNO, Casey Dickinson, Rosario Basilotta, Aakash Parameswaran, Maram Japardze and Eugene Volikov.
Enchant skilled Aakash Parameswaran, CEO of Fable Fox.
By not taking a stake within the firm, Unegovskiy mentioned the corporate focuses on working side-by-side with founders to enhance every part from pitch to income technique. It takes a flat month-to-month price, plus a hit price if it helps a staff increase cash or develop. The price is usually 5% to 10% of the raised quantity or a share of income progress.
“We additionally reserve the best to put money into future rounds on founder-friendly phrases — aligned with
long-term assist, not short-term possession,” mentioned Unegovskiy. He additionally mentioned 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 initiatives working on the intersection of gaming and AI — mixing artistic ambition with scalable infrastructure.
“We’re seeing sturdy indicators that the subsequent wave of gaming startups will likely be deeply technical, globally minded, and searching for business-first assist with out early dilution,” Unegovskiy mentioned.
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