| Session Name: | Incubators/Accelerators: An Inside Look at Startup Funding and Entrepreneurship Programs |
| Speaker(s): | Paul Bragiel, Jason Della Rocca, Keith Katz, Epona Schweer, Ken Seto |
| Company Name(s): | I/O Ventures, Execution Labs (Moderator), Execution Labs, Indie Bits, Massive Damage, Inc. |
| Track / Format: | Advocacy |
| Overview: | Dedicated incubators and accelerators for the game industry are starting to pop up, and they are working to help entrepreneurial developers get ahead in the game business. Largely adopted (and adapted) from more general web/tech efforts like Y-Combinator and TechStars, programs to suit the particular needs of game development and commercialization are being established across the globe. While each incubator/accelerator program is set up differently, they often provide much needed resources like seed funding, dev machines, and shared working space. They offer a heavy dose of mentorship and coaching to fill in the gaps of expertise in startup development teams. More importantly, they provide business related support in terms of go-to-market expertise, general business development guidance, and access to the press, publishers, and investors. The panel will focus on the developer perspective to provide information and insight to developers who are contemplating joining an incubator/accelerator program. What programs are available and where? How do programs differ? What should one expect as standard and what should one watch out for (e.g. potential legal and investor traps)? We'll also discuss the role of incubators and accelerators in the context of a larger regional ecosystem. |
Recommended
