Jan-Pieter (JP) van Seventer is an internationally respected game industry professional with more than two decades of experience in creative entrepreneurship, incubation, and sector development. As Managing Director of Dutch Game Garden, the Netherlands’ leading incubator for game startups, he has mentored and supported over 300 game companies, many of which gained international acclaim. JP was among the first in Europe to pioneer structured game incubation programs starting in 2007, laying the groundwork for what is now a thriving startup ecosystem.

With a foundation in Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering, JP began his career as a game designer and 3d level artist, later co-founding a game studio and leading projects for platforms ranging from PC, mobile and console to VR/AR/XR. His work combines practical industry insight with a passion for systemic change, balancing creation with business thus making him a sought-after advisor to government bodies and cultural institutions. He serves on the industry advisory boards of Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUAS) game programme, University of Utrecht game programme and to the Dutch national Creative Council.

JP is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop facilitator across Europe, known for his authentic storytelling, lessons learned (including the occasional “Messed up moment”), and strategies for building sustainable creative ecosystems. His approach blends creativity with actionable insights ideal for regions wanting to set up their own creative business infrastructure. JP has advised emerging gameclusters in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Malta, The UK, Canada, Germany, Colombia, South Africa and India.