Press Start - Application Guidelines

Applications are to be completed online in a form-based application. The required documents are to be uploaded digitally through the application form. Corrections to the given information are possible in the online form until submission. If submitted as a team, the registration must be completed by one person from the team, stating all team data.

It may take up to a day for the confirmation email to arrive. If you do not receive the email within one day, please contact us briefly at stipendium[at]stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de

Game creators can demonstrate their qualifications by providing proof of studies or training in the field of games or a related area, involvement in game development, and/or relevant experience in game development. A panel of experts will decide on sufficient qualifications.

The overall evaluation consists of the individual founder’s profile, the team profile, and the game pitch. For solo developers, the team profile is not required.

• Founders: Up to three founders per team can apply. Details of each person must be entered in the application form and individual CVs uploaded
• Team profile: Team information can be entered in the application portal and the pitch deck. Relevant information includes the company’s vision, team synergies, and roles. We are also interested in whether games and projects have already been realized.
• Pitch deck: The central aspect of the pitch deck is the description of the application which is supposed to be developed. This may include a game application (including serious games), a gamified application, a VR/AR/MR application, or UI/UX applications from the gaming sector. The development stage of the application can range from concept to unpublished game.

Additionally, the submitted concept will be evaluated according to various criteria. The pitch deck must answer at least one of these questions. Responses to all points are not required.

• Choice of topic and cultural relevance: Does the concept address significant cultural, social, or political themes? What is the relevance of these themes to today’s society?
• Originality and innovation: Is the game concept creative and innovative in its approach to gameplay, storytelling, or interactive mechanics?
• Potential for cultural impact: Does the concept have the potential to create a long-term cultural impact, for instance, by sparking discussions or reaching a broad and diverse audience?
• Narrative depth and emotional resonance: How profound is the proposed narrative? Does it have the potential to elicit strong emotions and encourage players to reflect on societal issues?
• Diversity and representation: Does the concept promote diversity and cultural representation? Does it consider different perspectives and life experiences?
• Use of technology and media: Does the concept use technology and media in an innovative way to foster cultural expression? Are there new ways through which the game could influence social interactions?
• Aesthetic and artistic vision: How strong is the concept’s artistic vision? Does the visual and auditory design contribute to creating a culturally significant work?
• Accessibility and inclusion: Is the concept designed to reach a broad audience, including people with different abilities and backgrounds?
• Potential for community building: Does the concept have the potential to build an active and engaged community around the game, encouraging cultural expressions (such as fan art, modding etc.)?

If there are more than three founders in the team, a selection must be made independently by the applying team as to which (up to 3) persons apply.

A framework program with professional workshops (online, approximately 10-14 topics) and individual coaching sessions (online, 3-5 hours per month) is offered to teams and solo founders. Additionally, there will be a kick-off, a mid-term, and a final event (in-person events). These appointments must be attended to the following extent:

• Founder teams must attend 75% of the professional workshops (not all team members need to attend each session).
• Solo founders must attend at least 65% of the offered workshops.
• Both, teams and solo founders must take advantage of at least 50% of the coaching hours.
• Attendance at the three in-person events (kick-off, mid-term and final event) is mandatory, with exceptions only in justified cases.
• A website must be created for the existing or to-be-founded company within the first year of the grant.

Termination or discontinuation of the grant may occur for the following reasons:

• Voluntary withdrawal of the grantee(s)
• Taking up a paid part-time job exceeding 10 hours per week
• Violation of the obligations outlined in the grant agreement, including:
  • Solo founders: attending less than 65% of the workshops
  • Teams: attending less than 75% of the workshops as a team (attendance can be distributed among team members)
  • Negative feedback from founding coaches, lack of continuity in team development
  • Disregard of the Safe Space Policy
  • Failure to submit the progress report on time. Grantees must submit a report by April 15, 2026, using a form-based questionnaire and possibly materials developed during the process.
  • No clear intention to found a company after one year of the grant.

If the grant program is prematurely terminated, the grant amount must be fully or partially repaid. The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis by the project sponsor, considering the individual situation of the grantee.

As grantees are not employees, they are not entitled to compensation during pregnancy, maternity leave, or illness. The grant can also be granted during pregnancy, maternity leave, or illness if the founder fulfils the grant agreement obligations. If not, a portion of the grant may be reclaimed. The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis by the project sponsor, taking the grantee’s individual situation into account.