Welcome to the Hello World! Delegate Guide. This event is officially sold out, with 150 delegates joining us at the University of Glasgow ARC to explore the ‘commercial scaffolding’ required to build sustainable games businesses in a volatile global market.
This guide contains everything you need to navigate the day, from the full programme to details on travel claims and our digital community.
Travel & Public Transport
You can find all of the nearby bus stops, subway stations and other travel options on the University of Glasgow website.
The Programme
- 09:30: Registration and Coffee (ARC Atrium) Arrive early to collect your badge and connect with fellow delegates.
- 10:00: Opening Remarks: The Honest Architect Brian Baglow (CEO, SGN) introduces the theme of the day-why we must move beyond inspiration to focus on the business logic of building studios.
- 10:10: Founder Lightning Talks Five-minute “war stories” from the front lines of the Scottish games sector.
- Speakers: Elena Höge, Jason Wagner, Jenny Caplan, Ella Romanos, and Korina Abbott.
- 10:35: Founder Q&A A facilitated deep-dive where our morning speakers answer your questions on the realities of starting and running a studio.
- 11:00: Monetisation Masterclass Oscar Clark delivers a masterclass on revenue design and sustainable business models for 2026.
- 11:45: Networking Lunch and the Living Lab Exhibition Lunch is provided in the Atrium. Explore the Living Lab-featuring work-in-progress demos from local indie studios – and meet our regional support partners.
- 12:45: Practical Workshop Rotations Delegates will rotate through three 45-minute interactive workshops:
- The Professional Pitch: Led by Gina Jackson OBE (Pitchify).
- Funding and Finance: Featuring Evelyn McDonald, Stuart Milne & Ella Romanos
- The Greenlight Lab (Market Validation): Featuring Gary Penn & Jason Wagner.
- 12:45 – 15:15: Office Hours (Parallel Track) Located in the Atrium, this zone offers 1-on-1 consultations with mentors, final names TBC. Note: Please book your 10-minute slot at the registration desk, when checking in, or during breaks throughout the day.
- 15:15: Coffee and Final Networking
- 15:45 – 16:00: Closing Keynote and SGN Roadmap: A look at the future of the Scottish games ecosystem and the support available through the Scottish Games Action Plan.
Essential Delegate Information
Punctuality
With a sold-out house and a packed schedule, timing is vital. Please ensure you are in the building by 09:45 for a sharp 10:00 start in the plenary hall.
Location
The event is held at the University of Glasgow ARC, 11 Chapel Ln, Glasgow G11 6EW. – The nearest subway is Kelvinhall (8-minute walk).
Student Travel Claims
To ensure the event is inclusive, students travelling from outside Glasgow can claim up to a maximum of £20 toward their travel costs.
- The Process: Keep your physical or digital receipts. A link to the claim form will be provided via the Hello World! Linktree after the event.
The Digital Community
The conversation doesn’t end at 16:00. We have created a dedicated, invite-only Hello World! Forum on the Scottish Games Network Discord channel. Use this space to find collaborators, ask follow-up questions, and share resources.
Code of Conduct
Hello World! is a professional environment. We expect all participants to be respectful, constructive, and inclusive. Our goal is to foster a safe space for learning where every question is valid.
The Next Step: Education Symposium (March 3rd)
For those staying for the second day, the Education Symposium will take place on March 3rd at West College in Paisley. This is a hands-on session for industry leads and educators to shape the new games education framework and the Scotland-wide skills forum.