Marketing firm 1SP Agency has bought games industry matchmaking platform MeetToMatch for an undisclosed amount, adding B2B networking technology to its existing marketing and brand activation work. The deal merges 1SP's consumer-facing campaigns with MeetToMatch's appointment-scheduling and contact-management tools, designed to make professional networking at trade shows less chaotic and more trackable.
1SP announced the acquisition on January 23, 2026. The move is part of a wider push to cover the full marketing stack for game companies, from awareness campaigns to live event execution and now structured business development.
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1SP moves into professional networking infrastructure
1SP Agency built its name on consumer marketing and gaming communications, running campaigns and activations for publishers and developers. With MeetToMatch, the agency now owns the infrastructure that powers professional networking at industry events, not just the promotional side.
This shifts 1SP's role beyond helping studios market games. The company can now facilitate partnerships, investment discussions, publishing deals, and service agreements through its own matchmaking platform. That's a different kind of value than running a booth or organizing a press event.
1SP says the combination makes sense because marketing services and B2B networking tools solve different parts of the same problem: how companies get value out of attending trade shows and conferences.
MeetToMatch handles the logistics of meeting people
MeetToMatch launched in 2009 as a matchmaking and event platform for the games industry. It connects developers, publishers, investors, and service providers by letting users schedule meetings, manage contacts, and organize business discussions before and during events.
The platform is common at industry conferences where thousands of professionals show up and unstructured networking becomes impossible. MeetToMatch's system helps participants find relevant partners faster and track business conversations across multiple events.
With 1SP backing it, MeetToMatch gets more resources to expand internationally and improve platform features while staying focused on structured networking for games and digital entertainment.
The pitch is turning networking into business development
1SP Agency managing director Torsten Oppermann said the acquisition supports the company's goal of helping game companies across every stage of marketing and sales. Adding matchmaking and event technology extends that role beyond campaigns and into business development you can measure.
The integration is meant to improve how professionals interact at trade shows by tightening up appointment management, data usage, and follow-up processes. Instead of informal meetings, the combined platform aims to create more organized, trackable business engagement.
For studios and publishers, this means networking can become a deliberate part of event strategy instead of something that happens in the gaps between marketing efforts.
MeetToMatch plans to expand beyond its current scope
MeetToMatch co-founder Fedor van Herpen said partnering with 1SP lets the platform scale faster and expand globally. The acquisition brings financial and development resources that can accelerate feature development and reach new markets.
The partnership also opens the door for MeetToMatch to move beyond its traditional role at games conferences. With 1SP's support, the platform can potentially expand into adjacent areas like digital entertainment, esports, and web3-related networking environments, where structured B2B connections are becoming more important.
Van Herpen described the next phase as focusing on broader business tools for professionals across games and digital media, rather than only serving as an appointment scheduler for events.
The goal is making deals happen more efficiently
Games industry events remain central to publishing agreements, funding rounds, distribution deals, and partnerships. As events grow larger, the need for better digital infrastructure has increased.
By combining event technology with marketing services, 1SP wants to provide a more integrated experience for exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees. This includes using data to improve matchmaking quality, reducing time spent searching for contacts, and helping participants focus on relevant business meetings.
The acquisition positions 1SP not just as a marketing agency, but as a technology partner for companies looking to improve both visibility and commercial outcomes at major industry gatherings.
What this signals about the industry
The deal reflects a trend in the games industry toward blending marketing, networking, and business development into unified platforms. As competition increases and events become more complex, companies want tools that connect branding with actual business results.
For 1SP Agency, acquiring MeetToMatch adds infrastructure to its service portfolio. For MeetToMatch, the partnership offers scale and development support. Together, the companies want to improve how professionals connect and do business across global games events.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition signals a long-term strategy focused on integrating marketing, event technology, and structured networking into a single ecosystem for the games and digital entertainment industries.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is MeetToMatch?
MeetToMatch is a B2B matchmaking and event platform founded in 2009 that helps developers, publishers, investors, and other professionals schedule meetings and manage networking at games industry events.
Why did 1SP Agency acquire MeetToMatch?
1SP acquired MeetToMatch to add data-driven networking and event technology to its services and expand beyond marketing into structured B2B matchmaking and business development.
How will the acquisition affect games industry events?
The deal is meant to improve how professionals connect at conferences by combining marketing services with matchmaking technology, making networking more organized and measurable.
Will MeetToMatch change under 1SP Agency?
MeetToMatch is expected to scale globally and accelerate platform development with added financial and technical resources while continuing to focus on structured networking.
Does this impact web3 or digital entertainment sectors?
The partnership may allow MeetToMatch to expand beyond traditional games events into areas like esports and web3-related business networking, where structured connections are increasingly relevant.
Were the financial terms disclosed?
No, the acquisition fee was not publicly disclosed by either company.
