R42 in Leipzig Receives Accelerator Funding and Further SGB Investment

A boost for the games industry in Saxony: R42 receives 900,000 Euros in accelerator funding. In addition, the Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (SBG) is increasing its existing investment.

As one of three newly established start-up accelerators in Saxony, the R42 Games Accelerator is receiving funding as part of the Saxon Accelerator Programme. The funding amounts to 900,000 Euros over the next three years. At the same time, SBG - Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft confirms its confidence in the project with a second investment of 350,000 Euros. Since 2020, SBG has been involved in the development of the R42 ecosystem in Ritterstraße in Leipzig through an open investment. The initiator of R42 is the management consultancy GECKO.2.

The R42 Games Accelerator is part of a building dedicated to the games industry. In the in-house start-up programme, founders from the games and media industry are supported for nine months and accompanied in their sustainable development. The concept works: The predecessor programme, R42 Start-up Bootcamp, has already supported 29 start-ups since 2022. As a result, more than 50 new jobs have been created in the participating companies. The R42 Games Accelerator builds on this experience.

In addition to the funding from the accelerator programme, R42 will invest two million Euros of its own funds over the next three years to set up and expand the R42 Games Accelerator. During the nine-month programme, workshops, coaching, networking and external mentoring will lay the foundations for a sustainable future for the participating start-ups.

"The fact that we were able to prevail in the selection process for accelerator funding is, on the one hand, confirmation that we have hit the right nerve with our concept and have developed something special," says Christopher Siebenhüner, CEO and co-founder of GECKO.2. "On the other hand, the funding is a positive signal for the entire games industry in Germany."

“In this challenging situation, the Free State of Saxony is actively countering this negative development by supporting our accelerator and emphasising the importance of the games industry for the regional economy. Although Saxony is one of the smaller locations, 41 percent more companies have settled here since 2020. We want to build on this," adds Siebenhüner.

"The games industry in Saxony is very dynamic, growing rapidly and has great potential. Leipzig and Dresden in particular are increasingly becoming important locations for game development," says Martin Dulig, Saxony's State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport. "We are supporting this potential by providing start-ups with the appropriate structures for a fast and successful market entry through our targeted accelerator programme. The R42 Games Accelerator in Leipzig will benefit from this programme and will receive 900,000 Euros in funding. This will give the location the opportunity to become a beacon for the industry, creating a magnetic effect and attracting other start-ups to Leipzig. The support will also have an impact on the regional economy, as there is an enormous transfer potential for medium-sized companies." "In the long term, we will target start-ups across Germany and internationally and encourage them to set up in the region. The games industry is vibrant, multicultural and diverse. This makes it a perfect fit for Leipzig and for us," says Tom Potutschek, COO and co-founder of GECKO.2.

"The city of Leipzig has long been at the centre of the games industry. With the convincing team of R42/GECKO.2, we will build on the good start and develop Leipzig into a hotspot of the gaming scene. SBG - Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH stands for long-term partnership and, as a subsidiary of the Sächsische Aufbaubank - Förderbank, supports innovative ideas from Saxon companies," says Frank Tappert, Managing Director of the Sächsische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (SBG).

"The renewed investment by SBG is a special sign of confidence for us, for which I am personally very grateful," says Christopher Siebenhüner. "This is the final building block that will enable us to get our building ready for the launch of the R42 Games Accelerator." Applications for the 2025 start-up class are now open at www.r42.gg.