• Market Research & Validation Workshop: Christopher Chancey (Founding Partner & General Manager at Indie Asylum)
• Community Building & Management Workshop: Jenny Windom (Partner at Wholesome Games & Founder of Geeks & Grounds)
• Brand Marketing: Key Message Architecture Workshop: Krysta Yang & Kit Ellis (Co-Founders at Never A Minute Marketing)

• 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 2026 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.

Two participating studios outside of the GTA will receive comped travel to and from Toronto, as well as 3 nights of hotel accommodations (May 19-21) for one representative. Thank you to Ontario Creates for also supporting this part of the program.

Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:

• Participants must be developing an entertainment video game for PC/Console.
• Participants must be from an Ontario studio.
• Preference will be given to founder(s) that have shipped at least one game as an individual, or the applying 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.

Program participants are expected to:

• Pay the $149 +HST CAD (IO members) or $299 +HST CAD (Non-members) for in-person bootcamp. This fee includes up to two complimentary VIP tickets to XP Game Summit 2025 ($1000+ value). You can become an IO Build Tier Member for $500 CAD +HST.
• Attend in-person bootcamp on May 20, 2026 (9:00 am – 5:30 pm ET) with up to two leading members from the studio to participate in this program (ie. Founders, Managers, or Leads)
• Complete assigned activities during the workshops.
• Complete the bootcamp survey to provide feedback to IO about your learning process
• All participants are required to adhere to IO’s Code of Conduct. We are committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive space for our community. All participants must treat others courteously, respect privacy, and engage constructively. Harassment, discrimination, or harmful behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Please keep language clean and professional at all times.

Deadline to apply: May 8, 2026 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 13, 2026.