studio startup
Launching sustainable game studios by marginalized founders
Social Finance and Investment
Learn about repayable investment, and build your knowledge and experience in the use of social finance mechanisms and tools to create cultural impact.
Structuring the Business
Learn how to create a social-purpose enterprise, incorporate, or form an artist-run, worker-owned co-op. You'll receive focused mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.
Product Development and Pitching
Learn how market research and design impact your road map and business plan, and hone your pitching chops with support from producers, studio heads and platform representatives.
Benefits
- Build your game studio from the ground up, with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, ethical labour principles, and cooperative business models and structures
- 24 weeks of hands-on learning, workshops and critical feedback from experienced entrepreneurs
- Expert social finance coaching to learn how to prepare to pitch for repayable loans that align with your values and capacity
- A new community of founders you can lean on for support as your studio grows
- Focused mentorship from studio founders and heads from around the world
- Dedicated desk in our west end Toronto studio (once it is safe to reopen)
Key Dates Studio Startup Cohort 1
- September 10 Info session
- Sep 14–Oct 14 Applications open
- October 21 Applicants notified of status
- October 23-27 Shortlist interviews
- October 30 Final notifications
- Nov 9–April 20, 2021 Program duration
Program Schedule
- Month 1
Company structures and contracts
- Month 2
Market research and revenue streams
- Month 3
Concept development
- Month 4
Product development
- Month 5
Basic accounting and financial modelling
- Month 6
Investment readiness
This project is part of the Canadian Women’s Foundation Investment Readiness Program, funded by the Government of Canada.
