Unlock Your Game Development and Game Business Potential with Our Pre-Incubation Programme!
Are you an aspiring game developer with a brilliant idea but unsure how to bring it to life and turn it into succesful business? Our Pre-Incubation Programme is designed for individuals and teams looking to turn their game concepts into market-ready products and published games.
With a mix of hands-on training and expert mentoring, this programme will equip you with the essential skills to navigate the game development landscape successfully.
The programme will end with a release event, where all teams will release their game or demo on Steam.
Who is the programme for?
- Game developers in the early stages of their project
- Teams looking to refine their ideas and business strategy
- Creatives interested in learning the fundamentals of game business, funding, and marketing
- Anyone who wants structured guidance and mentorship in game development
What’s included?
This programme consists of a series of 6 in-person and online training sessions led by industry experts, covering essential topics such as game design, marketing, funding, and business strategies.
Participants who have registered as a company will also receive mentoring sessions after each workshop for personalized feedback and support.
Programme Overview:
- 5.04 at 11.00-15.00 Kick off + Training 1
The programme kick-off is on the 5th of April, which is followed by the first training.
The first training covers the fundamentals of game design, including different genres and the ideation process for developing compelling game concepts.
Additionally, participants will learn about market analysis and how to determine market fit, ensuring their game idea aligns with audience demand and industry trends.
The training will be carried out by Jordan Morris and Andrejs Rusinovskis.
- 19.04 at 11.00-15.00 Training 2
The second training covers selecting the right toolkit and art style to bring your game vision to life.
Participants will also learn how to create an effective to-do list, master project management techniques, and improve teamwork for a more efficient development process.
The training will be carried out by Ahmed El Shenawy and Julia Sereda.
- 3.05 at 11.00-15.00 Training 3
The fifth training covers securing funding and learning about funding possibilities for your game and understanding key business principles.
Participants will learn about key legal aspects, including contracts, copyrights, and business structures, with a focus on intellectual property (IP) in the gaming industry. The session will cover relevant IP types such as copyrights, design rights, and software patents, as well as the role of AI in IP. Additionally, it will explore revenue generation from IP rights and essential legal considerations for IP contracts.
The training will be carried out by Andrejs Rusinovskis and Jelizaveta Lazonen.
- 14.05 at 18.00-19.00 Training 4 (Online)
The fourth training covers pricing strategies, helping participants determine the optimal pricing model for their game to maximize revenue and market success.
The training will be carried out by Karl Kontus.
- 17.05 at 11.00-14.00 Training 5
The third training covers game marketing strategies, including key funnels and channels to reach your audience effectively. Participants will learn best practices for promoting their game, how to craft compelling messaging, and strategies for building visibility and engagement in a competitive market.
The training will be carried out by Jordan Morris and Andrejs Rusinovskis.
- 11.06 at 18.00-21.00 Training 6 and Programme wrap-up
The final training covers the step-by-step process of releasing your game on Steam, including essential pre-launch preparations, submission guidelines, and post-launch strategies.
Participants will also take part in a programme wrap-up, reflecting on their progress and receiving final guidance for future success.
The training will be carried out by Jordan Morris and Andrejs Rusinovskis.
Trainers:
Jordan Morris – Creator of “Haiku the Robot”, a 2D action-adventure platformer released on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Jordan developed the game entirely on his own. His second game, “Rusty’s Retirement” has reached important milestone – it has now sold 500 000 copies.
Andrejs Rusinovskis – CEO of GameDev Estonia and GameDev HUB, HR at Ringtail Studios, and manager of Ringtail Academy, an affordable 3D modeling and animation program. He actively fosters the growth of Estonia’s game development scene and facilitates connections with international markets.
Karl Kontus – Co-Founder of Video Game Insights, where he is building a market, player, and competitive intelligence platform for the gaming industry. Previously, he worked at 2K, leading the NBA 2K commercial strategy in EMEA and Asia, covering pricing, promotion strategy, SKU planning, geographic prioritization, budgeting, forecasting, market analysis, and player cohorting.
Jelizaveta Lazonen – An experienced Intellectual Property Strategy consultant with a legal background and an LLM in Intellectual Property Law. She specializes in helping companies develop strong IP strategies that protect their innovations while fostering collaboration. Passionate about navigating the complexities of intellectual property, she helps organizations leverage their intangible assets for sustainable growth.
Ahmed El Shenawy – A civil engineer-turned-game developer driven by a deep passion for film and games. A self-taught game programmer, he earned a master’s degree in Educational Game Design from Tallinn University, where he is now a guest lecturer. Ahmed frequently speaks at industry events and currently works at Placeholder Gameworks, the studio behind Death and Taxes, contributing to their upcoming title, Broken Alliance.
Julia Sereda – CEO & Co-founder of Rhea Games. Previously, she was an Art Director at Ready Player Me for seven years, playing a key role in transforming it into a leading developer platform. She built and led a team of 12 artists, including concept artists, 3D character designers, riggers, and technical artists—mentoring many from intern to mid-level roles. She also established production pipelines, automated processes to enhance efficiency and quality, and optimized workflows to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Why join?
Expert-Led Training – Learn from experienced professionals who have been in the industry. Hands-On Mentorship – Get feedback to your game. Structured Learning – Step-by-step guidance to take your game from idea to launch. Networking Opportunities – Connect with other game developers and potential collaborators. Market & Business Readiness – Gain critical insights to ensure your game has a strong commercial foundation.
Participation fee
- For companies 50€+VAT (Up to 5 people can participate from 1 company/team)
- Not a company 60€+VAT
Don’t miss this opportunity to take your game to the next level! Apply now and start your journey toward game development success!
Registration is open until 31st of March!
For additional questions: contact info@inkubaator.ee