Games Lift From Gamecity Hamburg Enters Round Five

The incubator for game developers at Gamecity Hamburg, Games Lift, is entering its fifth round. Applications for the funding programme can be submitted until 10 June 2024.

The location initiative Gamecity Hamburg kicks off the application phase for their Games Lift Incubator 2024. This funding program for game developers in Germany is open for applications until 10 June. Five teams will receive financial support (15,000 Euros), a workshop program and access to the Games Lift Network of experts. In addition, the teams can benefit from 1,000 Euros in coaching budget. After a three-month workshop phase, the teams will be further supported in their project development with individual mentoring and will travel together to an international industry event until August 2025.

Since 2020, Gamecity Hamburg's Games Lift incubator (website) has supported a total of 20 start-ups and developer teams in the development of their digital games - such as Symmetry Break Studio, which won the Young Talent Award for "Best Prototype" at the German Computer Game Awards 2024. As is mandatory for Prototype Funding, Gamecity Hamburg is also introducing a diversity checklist as part of the application process for Games Lift. This will help applicants to examine their structures and processes in the development of game projects. The online event "Games Lift Insights" on 14 May at 14:00 provides a first insight into what the participating teams can expect from the incubator's workshop programme.

"We continue to develop the Games Lift Incubator program every year.  To support our incubator teams even more effectively in addressing publishers and end consumers in the future, we are integrating a joint trip to an industry event into Games Lift", explains Margarete Schneider, Project Manager at Gamecity Hamburg.

The selection committee, made up of representatives from the local games industry and Gamecity Hamburg, will decide which applicants will be accepted into the Games Lift Incubator 2024. New on the 2024 selection committee: Kristin von der Wense and Tobias Graff. Kristin von der Wense is Publishing Producer at Daedalic Entertainment. Tobias Graff is co-founder, programmer and CEO of Hamburg-based indie studio and publisher Mooneye Studios. Other experts on the jury: Ole Schaper (Managing Director of The Sandbox Hamburg (Sviper GmbH)), Heiko Gogolin (Managing Director of Rocket Beans Entertainment) and Margarete Schneider (Project Manager at Gamecity Hamburg).

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