The support program is designed to reduce operational overhead and ease the pressure on indie studio founders.
February 17, 2026, Limassol, Cyprus — Mellow, a contractor management platform automating freelancer sourcing, contracting, compliance, and payments, has launched Indie Launchpad, a dedicated support program for indie game studios.
Indie studios will receive six months of full access to hire and work with remote talent across more than 100 countries worldwide. The program supports growing teams of up to 15 people and is intended for aspiring studios who have yet to establish a name for themselves in the gaming industry.
Update: All types of video games development studios can participate: desktop, mobile, and web.
The program aims to empower indie game studios to focus on shipping games instead of dealing with bureaucracy.
According to Mellow's internal data, operational overheads consume 5-15% of studio budgets and drive founder burnout. Manual contractor management costs indie studios 100-300 hours and $5 000-$15 000 per quarter on administrative work alone. Smaller teams are particularly affected, often lacking the resources needed to operate effectively in a challenging market.
“Working closely with numerous indie studios, we’ve seen firsthand the heavy financial pressure they face. In today’s volatile market, it’s only getting harder,” said Alexander Norovyatkin, VP of Growth at Mellow. “We cannot change market turbulence, but we can provide a safe space where studios can manage their teams, eliminate paperwork, and reduce administrative costs. Our goal is to free up resources for what matters most: creating new worlds.”
The program includes Mellow’s Contractor Management platform, covering hiring, contracting, legal paperwork, and invoicing, as well as AI Scout, which helps project leads quickly match roles with suitable freelancers.
To participate in the program, studios can apply here. Mellow plans to support up to 50 studios, accepting applications throughout 2026. Access is provided at a symbolic $1 per contractor per month for legal formalities.
About. Mellow.io is a contractor management platform for companies and freelancers to seamlessly work together across the globe. The platform covers the full lifecycle of contractor-based work — from finding projects and matching with talent to signing contracts, managing compliance, and handling payments across 100+ countries. Mellow partners with over 1,500 companies and connects 230,000 remote professionals worldwide, with a special tie and passion for the gaming industry. It works with clients such as Gaijin, G2G, Sumsub, and others. Mellow operates globally with offices in Cyprus, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and New York.
