Two new games-development accelerators have opened for applications today.
The Indielab South Yorks Games Accelerators have been set up to support games developers and games tech providers across the region.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Indielab Games to deliver two targeted Games Accelerator programmes for the SY region,” said Laura Bennett, Programme Lead and Super Connecter at TEAM SY.
“Yorkshire’s digital industry continues to grow rapidly and TEAM SY is committed to providing the knowledge, support and expertise to enable start-ups and SMEs in the region to succeed.”
The programmes will be open to all early and mid-stage games developers and tech companies to facilitate and accelerate the growth of the games sector across South Yorkshire.
Successful applicants will be offered industry masterclasses and seminars covering publishing, platforms, streaming, investment, legal and finance. They will also be advised on routes to market, business growth and readiness for investment.
This will culminate in an investor pitch for projects or equity, that has historically delivered a 20% conversion rate across Indielab cohorts.
“We’re really excited about enabling this growth for the games sector in South Yorkshire and working with partners from across the industry to help supercharge the potential of the region’s local studios. South Yorks is home to one of the UK’s top 10 games hubs and it’s a sector that’s growing rapidly,” explained Victoria Powell, Indielab Games’ founder and Programme Director.
“However, the picture for small developers is tough and there’s a real need to support emerging studios. For the region’s games companies, this is a fantastic opportunity to access masterclasses, seminars, contacts and market insight that will really help them grow their businesses.”
The accelerator is running in partnership with TEAM SY – a project part-financed by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund and delivered in partnership with Barnsley Council and Capital Enterprise.
Additional support for the Indielab South Yorks Games Accelerators comes from the Screen Industries Growth Network, using public funding by Research England, part of UK Research and Innovation.
