If you're an indie developer keeping an eye out for equity-free funding opportunities, here’s some important news:Dangen Entertainment has officially transitioned their previous grant competition into a new platform called Pitches.
This update matters because Dangen has been one of the few private publishers offering non-recoupable, no-strings-attached monetary grants to help indie teams push prototypes, polish vertical slices, or get ready for publishers.
Their previous grant rounds were famous for awarding $25,000 / $15,000 / $10,000 to selected indie titles — with no obligation to sign a publishing deal.
Now, with Pitches, they’re taking a more streamlined and developer-friendly approach.
💡 Why This Is Good News for Indie Developers
1. No More Grant Deadlines — Submit Anytime
The old system ran specific annual submission periods. Pitches allows ongoing submissions, which means you can pitch when your prototype or vertical slice is actually in a good state.
2. Still Developer-Friendly, Still Indie-Focused
Dangen has built a reputation for supporting small teams and experimental projects.That ethos continues with Pitches — focusing on:
- High-quality indie games
- Unique visual direction
- Strong mechanics or narratives
- Market potential without needing AAA budgets
📝 What You Need to Submit
The new portal asks for a few essentials:
- Your game description
- Visual materials / screenshots
- Trailer or prototype footage
- Playable build if available
- Team background
- Scope + timeline
🎯 Should You Submit?
You should consider applying to Dangen’s Pitches if:
- You have a polished prototype or strong vertical slice
- You need financial support to push the project forward
- You want a chance at publishing but don’t want commitment upfront
- You’re building a game that fits well within the indie space (2D, pixel art, narrative-driven, action titles, etc.)
- You want visibility from an established indie-focused publisher
If your project is still early or purely conceptual, it may be better to refine your slice before submitting