How the IGDA Foundation is helping the developers of the future.

About this episode

A conversation with IGDA Foundation Executive Director Alyssa Walles about supporting underrepresented game developers through funding and mentorship.

In this episode of Spawn On Me, I sit down with IGDA Foundation Executive Director Alyssa Walles for a real conversation about what it actually takes to get more game developers the funding, mentorship, and access they deserve. We dig into the Foundation’s mission to break down barriers for underrepresented and marginalized creators around the world, and how their programs help devs find the resources they need to build sustainable careers and bring their games to life. We talk about how access to capital, professional development, and community can change everything for a developer trying to break into the industry. Alyssa shares how the Foundation is building pathways through scholarships, mentorship initiatives, and direct support that connect talented creators with real opportunities. If you care about equity in games, want to understand how funding pipelines really work, or are looking for ways to support the next generation of developers, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

People in this episode

Host: Kahlief Adams

Guest: Alyssa Walles

Topics covered

• game development
• funding
• mentorship
• equity in games
• underrepresented creators

Keywords

• game developers
• funding
• mentorship
• equity
• sustainable careers
• scholarships
• community support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IGDA Foundation

More episodes of Spawn On Me with Kahlief Adams: A Video Game Podcast

• The Best Of Summer Game Fest with Cam Hawkins · June 12, 2026 · 15 min
• Even Deathclaws Can Be Your Companion Now | Fallout 76 Interview · June 11, 2026 · 12 min
• Is This the Best RPG of the Decade? Fable Hands-Off Impressions · June 10, 2026 · 9 min
• Annapurna's Silent Hill: Townfall Is Scarier Than It Has Any Right to Be | Hands-On · June 10, 2026 · 6 min
• James Bond Game Sold 2.7M Copies in One Week? IO Interactive's CDO Explains. · June 10, 2026 · 14 min
• This Is What a Perfect Sequel Looks Like | Control: Resonant Hands-On · June 10, 2026 · 4 min