“Start-up: Games-Entrepreneurs” was launched in 2022 as a pilot project with the aim of providing creatives from the games sector with practical knowledge for their own founding process with the help of industry experts. Having successfully established itself as a contact point for founders of indie studios in Berlin and Brandenburg in recent years, the program is now set to become even more attractive to a broader target group by being held in English.
The free educational program is aimed at founders from the games industry and is specially tailored to their needs. The program consists of three pillars:
- workshops on founding a successful game studio and publishing the first game,
- mentoring of the individual teams by industry experts,
- networking with other indie developers and within the games industry in general.
The individual workshops take place on working days for a full or half day on site at the Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur or regionally based game studios and institutions in Berlin and Brandenburg. Occasionally, workshops can also take place online.
Workshop Content
Here is a preliminary overview of the topics covered in the workshops.
START-UP TUTORIAL
What you need to know about founding a company
Company vision, legal questions about founding, taxes.
COLLECTING COINS
How to secure your financing
Forms of financing, business plan, funding opportunities.
FINAL BOSS
What you need to consider when publishing your game
Self-publishing, publishers, pitching, networking.
VISIBILITY BOOST
How to reach your target group
Press relations, social media marketing, community management.
TEAMPLAY
How to lead your team and company successfully
Leadership, team building, project management.
EXTRA LIFE
What moves you
We keep this part open for topics that are also important to you.
Mentoring
The mentoring program is available to participants from July to December 2024. Selected mentors who support the program can be contacted directly by the teams to arrange appointments. Each team has a fixed number of hours available.
These are the mentors for 2024.
Studio Director & Producer at Telescope Game Studios
Ambassador Coordinator for Women in Games
Board Member for IGDA
Founder of Game Dev Lisbon
![Mafalda Duarte_2 Mafalda Duarte](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2024/01/Mafalda-Duarte_2.jpg)
Timeline
Start of the Application Phase
Jury Meeting
Notification of the Applicants
Kick-off Workshops - Day 1
Kick-off Workshops - Day 2
Start of gamescom
![gamescom Logo gamescom Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/gamescom-Logo.webp)
Start of Games Ground
![Games Ground Logo Games Ground Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/Games-Ground-Logo.png)
Years
These start-up teams have already successfully participated in our program.
Year 2023
Members:
- Alois Amadeus Eisbrenner
![iceburnerart_Logo iceburner art Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/iceburnerart_Logo.png)
Members:
- Jakob Hofmann
- Nixon Scherbarth
![indiependence_Logo indiependence. Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/indiependence_Logo.jpg)
Members:
- Daniel Schutko
- Philip Hildebrandt
- Robin Zitt
- Roman Wiegand
![KleeneGames_Logo Kleene Games Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/KleeneGames_Logo.png)
Members:
- Daria Pankau
- Meike Strippel
- Namin Hansen
![SelkiesInteractive_Logo Selkies Interactive Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/SelkiesInteractive_Logo.png)
Members:
- Fabian Kozielski
- Pia Seel
![SentimentGames_Logo Sentiment Games Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/SentimentGames_Logo.png)
Members:
- Alicia Cofalla
- Lion Aurel
![StudioFirlefanz_Logo Studio Firlefanz Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/StudioFirlefanz_Logo.png)
Members:
- Marian Majewski
![TheSettlings_Logo The Settlings Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/TheSettlings_Logo.png)
Year 2022
Members:
- Lucas Bödeker
- Max Bredlau
![Schleuder Games Logo Schleuder Games Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/Schleuder-Games-Logo.png)
Members:
- Johannes Dreibach
- Julius Peinelt
![Copy Paste Games_Logo_2 Copy Paste Games Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2022/04/Copy-Paste-Games_Logo_2.png)
Members:
- Linus Gärtig
- Gino Georgiev
- Vlad Trutniev
![Ivy Juice Games_Logo_2 Ivy Juice Games Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2022/04/Ivy-Juice-Games_Logo_2.jpg)
Members:
- Maximilian Knop
- Nicole Specht
![Konsole Game Labs_Logo Konsole Game Labs Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2022/04/Konsole-Game-Labs_Logo.png)
Members:
- Oscar Freyer
- Moritz Hofmann
![WhalesDontFly Studios_Logo WhalesDontFly Studios Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2022/04/WhalesDontFly-Studios_Logo.png)
Members:
- Nicolas Maierhöfer
- Marius Winter
![Wunderfax_Logo Wunderfax Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2022/04/Wunderfax_Logo.png)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it cost to participate in the program?
Participation is free of charge for the selected teams.
Who can apply?
- Individuals and teams with the intention of founding a company.
- Companies that have already been founded but have not yet published a commercially relevant game.
- Applicants can belong to all age groups. From students and graduates to career changers, everyone is welcome.
- Applications from diverse teams will be given special consideration.
What are the application criteria?
- Teams have a maximum size of 5 people.
- The team members are or the company is located in Berlin and/or Brandenburg.
- All team members should be able to attend the workshop dates.
Which projects are included in the program?
- The project must be a digital game.
A product idea or an initial prototype should be available. Apart from that, the project can be in any phase of development.
Application Information
The application phase for 2024 has been completed.
Funded by
![Logo_Medienboard_2024 Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2024/01/Logo_Medienboard_2024.png)
In Cooperation with
![180322_GME_Game-Logo_RGB-Master game Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/game-Logo_en.jpg)
![Games Ground Logo Games Ground Logo](https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/app/uploads/2023/01/Games-Ground-Logo.png)