Marketing & Discoverability Bootcamp

Indie Superboost (ISB) Marketing & Discoverability Bootcamp is an intensive one-day workshop specially designed to enhance your studio’s market presence. This in-person program will feature a cohort of ten hand-picked studios, including four from Canadian provinces outside Ontario. Participating studios are welcome to delegate two representatives to engage in a tailored agenda, comprising three interactive workshops and two presentations by distinguished experts of marketing and discoverability in the video game sector.

Bootcamp Details

  • When: June 11, 2024, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm ET
  • Where: The Innovation Studio, TMU (Toronto, Ontario)
  • Who: Independent video game companies (additional criteria below). Up to two leading members from the studio to participate in this program (ie. Founders, Managers, or Leads). Non-Ontario & participants outside of the GTA will receive travel accommodations.
  • Price: $100 CAD (IO/CIAIC members) or $500 CAD (Non-members). This fee includes up to two complimentary VIP tickets to XP24 (June 13-14 at the Hyatt Regency Toronto, $1000+ value).

Programming

  • Marketing Plan & Research Workshop → Angela Mejia (General Director at Clever Plays Studio / Indie Angels)
  • Community Building & Management Workshop → Jenny Windom (Senior Influencer Manager at Kepler Interactive)
  • Branding & Influencer Marketing Presentation → Krysta Yang (Co-Founder at NeverAMinute Consulting)
  • Steam Marketing Workshop → Chris Zukowski (Creative Director at HowToMarketAGame.com)
  • Creative Deliverables Presentation → Will Perkins (Principal & Creative Director at CONTINUE)

Why participate?

  • Receive a framework for building an effective and thorough marketing plan for your video game product.
  • Our industry leading experts have hand-made each facet of their programming to equip you and your studio with actionable strategies to implement into your marketing, promotional and commercialization efforts immediately.
  • VIP pass privileges to XP Game Summit 2024 will allow participants to connect with industry professionals and potential stakeholders after the conclusion of the bootcamp, maximizing company efforts during their time in Toronto.

Travel & Accommodations

Non-Ontario & participants outside of the GTA will receive comped travel to and from Toronto, as well as 4 nights of hotel accommodations (June 10-13). Thank you to the Canada Media Fund, and Ontario Creates for also supporting this part of the program.

Deadline to apply: April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET. Spots are limited to a maximum of 10 participating studios. Decisions on final selected participants will be made by IO and notifications will be sent by May 10, 2024.

Thank you to the Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Ubisoft Toronto, Xsolla & the Trade Commissioner Service for supporting the ISB program.

Selection Criteria

Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Participants must be developing a video game on Steam for this bootcamp.

  • Participants must be a from a Canadian studio.

  • Preference will be given to founder(s) that have shipped at least one game as an individual, or the studio has shipped at least one game.

  • Participants must hold a senior leadership position in their organization (ie. Founder, Manager, Director).

  • Leaders of this company must demonstrate their commitment to business growth and sustainability.

  • Candidates who are under-represented members of the community (ie. BIPOC,  2SLGBTQIA+, and women) will receive extra consideration and priority.

Bootcamp Speakers

Chris Zukowski

Chris Zukowski

Creative Director

HowToMarketAGame.com

Angela Mejia

Angela Mejia

General Director

Clever Plays Studio / Indie Angels

Jenny Windom

Jenny Windom

Senior Influencer Manager

Kepler Interactive

Krysta Yang

Krysta Yang

Co-Founder

NeverAMinute Consulting

Will Perkins

Will Perkins

Principal & Creative Director

CONTINUE