Hamburg, September 3, 2026: The Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, with its Gamecity Hamburg initiative, is launching the second round of its Prototype Funding program. Starting immediately, startups and small to medium-sized enterprises can apply for funding totaling up to 180,000 euros to develop digital games. The application period runs from September 4 to 24. 

Prototypes with compelling market potential are eligible for up to 80,000 euros in funding. The funding is non-repayable.

Application Process   

The following are eligible to apply for prototype funding:    

• Developers and developer communities   
• Or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)   
• That are based in Hamburg    
• Or are relocating their headquarters to Hamburg   
• Or are opening a branch/business premises in Hamburg. 

A consultation with Gamecity Hamburg is mandatory before the submission deadline to prepare applicants in the best possible way for the application process. All information about the application, a comprehensive FAQ, and the necessary templates can be found at:  https://gamecity-hamburg.de/funding/apply-now/  

Awarding Comittee

The awarding committee for the second funding round consists of Valentina Birke (Director of Indie Arena Booth), Nina Müller (VP of Publishing & Development Services at Goodgame Studios), and Dennis Schoubye (Head of Gamecity Hamburg). New members include Nora Klutzny (Producer at Off the Beaten Track) and Paul Taaks (Co-Founder and Creative Director at Overhype Studios).

Projects from Previous Funding Rounds

Various recipients of prototype funding have already released their games, which were supported by Gamecity Hamburg, most recently Pipapo Games with “Map Map – A Game About Maps.” All previous grant recipients and teams can be found at: https://gamecity-hamburg.de/funding/#All_Projects

All information regarding the application process will be published on the Gamecity website when the application phase begins: https://gamecity-hamburg.de/funding/. 

Interested parties are cordially invited to join the Gamecity Hamburg Discord server to discuss the program: https://discord.gg/gamecityhamburg. 

Newsletter: https://gamecity-hamburg.de/newsletter/

For further information and questions please contact:

Anna Jäger
Gamecity Hamburg
PR Manager
T +49 40 23 72 435 – 78
anna.jaeger@gamecity-hamburg.de

About Gamecity Hamburg

Gamecity Hamburg supports, connects and makes the gaming hub Hamburg visible. The aim is to improve the general conditions for companies and founders of the games value chain in the city, to support them in their further development and to anchor Hamburg in the public perception as one of the leading games locations in Germany. Gamecity Hamburg is the contact point for Hamburg's games funding as well as the Games Lift Incubator and also offers programs, events, and services in close cooperation with the games industry to strengthen local developers. At the same time, the exchange of knowledge within the sector and with other industries is promoted. The promotion of young talent, the development of new formats that activate the strong network of games companies in the city, and internationalization are the focus of the location initiative's activities. Gamecity Hamburg is part of Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft.

About the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft 

Since its foundation in 2010, Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft has seen itself as a central contact point for all players in Hamburg's creative industries from the eleven sub-markets of architecture, visual arts, design, film, literature, music, press, radio, software/games, theatre/dance, and advertising. It supports creative professionals with contemporary services and promotes innovation within the framework of the "Cross-Innovation Hub" project. Since 2017 the industry-specific initiatives Gamecity Hamburg, nextMedia.Hamburg and Design Zentrum are part of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft mbH.