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The Gamecity Incubator “Games Lift” is a program for students, start-ups, and developers that offers start-up financing, workshops, coaching, and mentoring for the development of concepts for digital games and other games-related services. This year's application phase runs from Monday, June 21 to Monday, July 26. Make sure to carefully read all information on this page before applying!
Who can apply for Games Lift?
-
All kinds of developer teams: students, developer associations, start-ups
- Small and medium enterprises
- Founded companies as well as groups of natural persons
What are the criteria?
- Max. 5 members per team
- All team members should be available to attend workshops in Hamburg on approx. 2 days per week from September to early December
- Teams must be located in or in the vicinity of Hamburg
What kinds of projects are eligible?
- Project must be a game or a games-related service
- Project can be in any stage from concept to pre-release
What do we offer?
Services:
- Workshops and coaching from experienced professionals
- Expense allowance of up to 15,000 euros
- Interdisciplinary networking
- Provided places in a co-working space for 3 months
Professional experts and workshops, e.g. on:
- How to found a company
- Business Development
- Pitch Training
- Financing
- Marketing & Distribution
- Project Management
- ...and many more
Application Process:
1. Check all information and documents on this page.
2. We recommend a consultation appointment in advance of your application.
3. Submit your online application here.
4. Among all valid applications, an awarding committee will select teams who are invited in early August to pitch their projects online.
5. The final decision on which teams enter the games Lift program will be made by the awarding committee right after the pitch.
Downloads
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Who can apply for the Games Lift Incubator?
↓Eligible to apply are both natural persons as well as Small and medium-sized companies (SMEs); developers and developer associations, student teams, start-ups, and teams in the process of founding a company.
Please note:
- Team size should not exceed 5 members per team.
- All team members should be available to attend Games Lift events and workshops on approx. 2 days per week for the three-months intensive phase of the Incubator program (September to early December).
- The precondition is always that the team is already based in Hamburg or can prove that they will relocate their residence to Hamburg or open a subsidiary or branch establishment in Hamburg upon entering the Games Lift Incubator program.
Can I apply if I already receive funding from another source?
↓If de minimis subsidies are involved, yes, but these may not exceed a total volume of €200,000 in three years from the first subsidy. Other public subsidies that are not subject to the de minimis regulation can be applied independently of this. Gamecity Hamburg must be consulted for a planned accumulation of subsidies for a project supported by Gamecity Hamburg.
If you are already receiving funding through the Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding Program, you cannot be granted funding through the Games Lift Incubator at the same time for the same project. It is however possible to receive both fundings for the same project if the funding periods do not overlap. If you are applying for the Incubator with one project while being granted the prototype funding for another project, this is generally possible if you can plausibly demonstrate how your team can handle each project and that it does not affect the timing or any other aspects of your prototype funding contract. Please make sure to discuss this in your consultation appointment before applying.
When and how can I apply?
↓Gamecity Hamburg runs one application period for Games Lift each year. The application phase for Games Lift 2021 ended on July 26. To make sure you are up to date with all deadlines regarding our funding programs, join our Discord Server and subscribe to our monthly newsletter. A detailed document on How to apply for the Games Lift Incubator can be found here and will take you through the application form step by step.
We strongly recommend a consultation appointment before submitting the application. Please contact us at funding@gamecity-hamburg.de to set up an appointment and include the following information:
- Short project outline (max. half a page of text or a slide) of the project
- Background of the team (max. half a page of text or a slide)
- All your questions regarding the application
What happens after I submitted my application?
↓The awarding committee will review all valid applications and invite teams to an online pitch in August. Based on the pitches, the committee will give a recommendation on which five teams will enter the Games Lift Incubator program.