What IndieHero.io does

IndieHero.io is a Brazilian matchmaking platform that connects independent game studios with international investors and event producers in the Brazilian indie gaming ecosystem. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Brasília, the company operates an international matchmaking platform where studios self-register to create profiles visible to investors, alongside structured programs such as JOIN (Jornada dos Indies) — a national initiative aimed at attracting foreign capital to Brazilian digital game companies. The platform is embedded within a broader corporate group that includes GameJamPlus, Plug and Plus, GoGo Games, Dare, and ux4indie, and it leverages exclusive access to major Brazilian events including Rock in Rio, Rio Innovation Week, GameJamPlus, Innova Summit, and Brasília Game Festival to drive deal flow and visibility for registered studios.

The company generates revenue through six distinct service lines: investment facilitation (transaction fees), acceleration and consulting services (valuation, pitch deck creation, legal support, translation), event production and sponsorship, educational programs (in partnership with SEBRAE), custom game jams for corporate clients, and complete game support services including porting, QA, and marketing. Its customer base spans independent game studios (primary), domestic and international investors (primary), corporate/brand clients seeking gaming community engagement, and event organizers. The platform has registered 250+ studios, produced 12+ events, and reached 100,000+ people through its activities. Its go-to-market is multi-modal: sales-led direct investor engagement, event-driven networking at major Brazilian venues, and community-led growth through a Discord server serving as the primary engagement hub.

The company is led by Juliana Brito (CEO) and Ian Rochlin (COO), with a stated team of 1-10 employees. It is privately held with no disclosed external funding rounds, and the Startup/Matchmaking platform is built on standard web infrastructure (Wix). Notable advisors include Camila Farani (G2Capital) and Carol Paiffer (Atom), both Shark Tank Brasil mentors, who add investor-facing credibility. No pricing is publicly disclosed; services appear to be quote-based and customized to client needs.

Name

IndieHero.io

Website

https://indiehero.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IndieHero.io is a Brazilian matchmaking platform connecting independent game studios with international investors and event producers, offering acceleration services, event production, and educational programs through its network of 250+ studios and partnerships with major Brazilian gaming events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gaming Industry Matchmaking Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Publishing & Label Services (Funding, Marketing, Release Management) (MPAFABAF)

Keywords

• Indie game matchmaking
• Game studio acceleration
• Gaming event production
• Developer-investor networking
• Investment facilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio de Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Investment Facilitation Services: Facilitates connections between game studios and investors, providing matchmaking, deal structuring, and investment coordination services.
2. Acceleration and Consulting Services: Provides acceleration programs and consulting services including valuation support, pitch deck creation, legal support, video pitch review, roadmap development, and translation services for studios seeking investment.
3. Event Production and Sponsorship: Full-service event production for gaming events including booth curation, speaker/workshop curation, event layout consulting, and sponsorship packages for GameJamPlus, Innova Summit, and Brasília Game Festival.
4. Educational Programs: Knowledge tracks and courses for game developers covering marketing, finance, business, and legal aspects, with workshops, personalized consulting, and pitch simulations. Partnership with SEBRAE for specific programs.
5. Custom Game Jam Services: Customized game jams for corporate clients to engage developer communities around their brand, drive innovation, and create exclusive creative solutions and business strategies.
6. Complete Game Support Services: Strategic assistance for game optimization including porting to six platforms, design validation, quality assurance, and marketing/PR strategies for global launch and monetization.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IndieHero.io operates an international matchmaking platform connecting independent game studios with investors and event organizers, supplemented by acceleration services (valuation, pitch deck creation, legal support), event production, customized game jams, training programs (Trilha do Conhecimento), sponsorship packages, and complete game support (porting, QA, marketing). The company also runs the JOIN (Jornada dos Indies) program aimed at attracting foreign investors to Brazilian digital game companies.

Product overview

IndieHero.io is a multi-service platform for the independent game development ecosystem in Brazil. The offering consists of a matchmaking platform connecting studios, investors, and event producers, complemented by acceleration services (Valuation Support, Pitch Deck Creation, Legal Support, Video Pitch Review, Roadmap, Translation Services), event production services, customized Game Jams, the Trilha do Conhecimento training program, sponsorship packages, and complete game support (porting, QA, marketing). The company also runs the JOIN (Jornada dos Indies) program to attract foreign investors to Brazilian game studios.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JOIN - Jornada dos Indies: A national program focused on attracting foreign investors from the digital games sector to Brazil, promoting Brazilian exporters through professionalization and qualification of small and medium entrepreneurs in the sector.

Products and services

• Game Jam Personalizada (Custom Game Jam) Customized Game Jam service for corporate clients that engages developer communities around a brand, strengthening visibility and innovation while creating exclusive creative solutions and business strategies.
• Trilha do Conhecimento (Knowledge Track) Educational training program for game developers covering marketing, finance, business, and legal matters through workshops, personalized consulting, and pitch simulations. Delivered in partnership with SEBRAE.
• Aula de Robótica e Programação para Crianças Live online or in-person classes in programming, robotics, and game development for children and teenagers, focusing on gamification and neurodiversity.
• Aceleração e Rodada de Negócios Business acceleration services including problem-solving for studios, customized marathons, training, and direct coordination between developers, investors, and large companies through business rounds.
• Cotas de Patrocínio (Sponsorship Packages) Sponsorship packages connecting brands to the gaming universe through major Brazilian game development events including GameJamPlus, Innova Summit, and Brasília Game Festival.
• Suporte Completo para Jogos (Complete Game Support) Strategic game support including porting to six platforms, design validation, quality assurance (QA), and marketing/PR strategies to optimize global launch and monetization.
• Plataforma de Matchmaking Internacional International matchmaking platform connecting studios, investors, and event producers, providing registered studios with their own profiles, unique opportunities, outsourcing connections, and pitch capabilities to anywhere in the world.
• Aceleração Indie Hero Acceleration program providing valuation support, memorandum of understanding creation, negotiation support, pitch deck creation, legal support, video pitch review, roadmap development, and translation services for studios.
• JOIN - Jornada dos Indies National program focused on attracting foreign investors to Brazilian digital game companies, promoting Brazilian exporters through professionalization and qualification of small and medium entrepreneurs in the gaming sector.
• Produção de Eventos (Event Production) Full-service event production including complete event coordination, booth curation, speaker and workshop curation, and event consulting and layout services for the gaming industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250+ studios registered on the platform
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• GameJamPluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGameJamPlus is part of the same corporate group as Indie Hero. It is described as one of the most important game development events in the Southern Hemisphere, providing Indie Hero with direct access to a large network of games and industry connections that feed deal flow into the investment platform.
• SEBRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SEBRAE (Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises) to provide courses and specific training for registered studios. SEBRAE-backed educational programs offer certification and professional development opportunities for game developers.
• Camila Farani (G2Capital)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCamila Farani, partner at G2Capital and Shark Tank Brasil mentor, serves as an advisor/mentor through the Indie Hero network. Provides investment expertise and credibility to the platform's investor-facing activities.
• Carol Paiffer (Atom)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCarol Paiffer from Atom serves as a mentor through the Indie Hero network. Provides guidance to studios and adds credibility through association with Shark Tank Brasil.
• Rock in RioflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRock in Rio is one of the world's largest music and entertainment festivals. Indie Hero manages the Game Jam+ booth at Rock in Rio, providing major exposure for participating studios and serving as a flagship showcase opportunity for the platform.
• Rio Innovation WeekcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRio Innovation Week is a major Brazilian innovation and technology event. Indie Hero participates and produces gaming-related programming, providing exposure opportunities for registered studios.
• Innova SummitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnova Summit is a gaming industry event where Indie Hero organizes sponsorship packages and connects studios with investors. It is one of the flagship events for the platform's deal-making activities.
• Brasília Game Festival (BGF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrasília Game Festival is a regional gaming event where Indie Hero hosts pitch sessions connecting selected studios with international investors. The event features structured programming for investor-studio meetings.
• Brasília Game Hub (BGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrasília Game Hub is the physical location where Indie Hero conducts its main investor pitch events. The partnership provides a dedicated venue for connecting studios with international investors during structured event programming.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hiro Capital: Hiro Capital is a gaming and esports venture fund investing in studios and platforms. Comparable as a potential institutional investor that IndieHero's JOIN program targets.
• Play Ventures: Play Ventures is a gaming-focused venture fund investing in game studios and infrastructure. Comparable as an investor side of IndieHero's marketplace, though operating at fund scale rather than as a deal intermediary.
• London Venture Partners (LVP): LVP is a gaming-focused venture fund with deep relationships across indie game studios. Comparable as the type of institutional investor IndieHero courts via its JOIN program and matchmaking platform.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a global startup accelerator and venture fund running vertical programs including gaming. Comparable as a platform accelerator model with strong corporate relationships, similar in structure to IndieHero's sponsorship and acceleration services.
• BITKRAFT Ventures: BITKRAFT Ventures is a global gaming-focused venture fund with accelerator programs for game studios. Comparable as a gaming investor and ecosystem builder, though at materially larger scale and capital base.
• 1Up Ventures: 1Up Ventures is an early-stage gaming investor focused on indie game studios. Comparable as a capital provider that IndieHero channels deal flow toward.

Direct peers

• Stugan: Stugan is a Swedish game accelerator offering mentorship and funding pathways to indie game studios. Comparable to IndieHero's acceleration and matchmaking services for indie developers.
• Kazendi: Kazendi is a gaming industry platform that connects game studios with investors and service providers, similar to IndieHero's matchmaking and acceleration approach. Operates in the same niche of intermediating between indie game developers and capital sources.
• GameBCN: GameBCN is a Barcelona-based indie games ecosystem organization that connects developers with investors, publishers, and corporate clients. Highly comparable as a regional indie game industry hub and matchmaking platform.
• GameFounders: GameFounders is a global game startup accelerator that provides matchmaking, mentorship, and investment access to game studios. Direct comparable as an accelerator and investment facilitation platform for indie game studios.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCfuzr-I-ctyxzyKAopApNRQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indiehero-io
• Instagraminstagram.com/indiehero.io

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IndieHero.io