Launching sustainable game studios by marginalized founders Damage Labs is a free long program for founders from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds ready to start a game studio. DMG is forging a new model for small studios to find financial stability, centering ethical labour frameworks, alternative financing and cooperative structures that empower rather than exploit marginalized creators.
Benefits: Build your game studio from the ground up, with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity, ethical labour principles, and cooperative business models + structures 24 weeks of hands-on learning, workshops and critical feedback from experienced professionals and 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
Curriculum: Social Finance & 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 your Business -- Learn how to create a social-purpose enterprise or form an artist-run worker-owned co-op + how to incorporate under Canadian Law. Studio Dev & Pitching -- Learn how market research and design impact your roadmap and business plan. Hone your pitching chops with support from industry professionals. Curriculum: Unit 1 - Social Financing & Communicating your impact Unit 2 -Company structures & contracts Unit 3 -Basic accounting & financial modelling Unit 4 - Business Planning & Team Management Unit 5 - Investment Readiness & Equity seeking Unit 6 - Pitching Your studio & your product
Damage Labs Studio Start up. Launching sustainable game studios by marginalized founders Damage Labs is a free long program for founders from historically marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds ready to start a game studio. DMG is forging a new model for small studios to find financial stability, centering ethical labour frameworks, alternative financing and cooperative structures that empower rather than exploit marginalized creators.