What does it really take to get an indie game funded?

After 17 years in AAA game development, Quentin Cobb left studios behind to found Ironroot Games. In this conversation, he shares what he's learning while actively pitching publishers and investors, raising funding, building a vertical slice, and navigating today's publishing landscape.

We discuss publisher expectations, angel investors, AI in game development, pitching a game studio, and why investors often back founders as much as games.

If you're an indie game developer, studio founder, or anyone trying to fund your next game, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone living it today.

Connect with Quentin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-cobb/
Website: https://ironrootgames.com/

Connect with Harry:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phokou/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hivemindworldInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hphokou/

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00:00 Intro
01:45 Quentin's AAA background and founding Ironroot Games
04:25 Why funding is the biggest challenge for indie studios
06:25 How Quentin survived after the Microsoft layoffs
09:03 Angel investors, friends & family, and early funding
11:29 Building a team before funding exists
15:44 What publishing deals are possible in 2026?
19:01 Why publishers invest in founders, not just games
22:22 Becoming a first-time CEO and earning investor confidence
26:35 Publisher pitches vs investor pitches
28:27 AAA vs indie development: biggest differences
29:55 Lessons from developing The Last of Us
33:03 Finding the features players actually care about
36:08 Why Ironroot Games is focused on single-player
37:29 AI in game development and publisher expectations
47:24 China, Europe, and finding the right publishing partners
57:07 How to get honest feedback from publishers
59:49 Making games that are personal
1:08:54 Gamescom plans and pitching the prototype
1:12:00 Final advice for every indie game developer