Program Info
Indie Superboost (ISB) is an industry-guided initiative designed to accelerate the growth and sustainability of video game indies (incl. XR game indies), by providing them with business skills, knowledge, and networking opportunities.
The program deliverables for ISB in 2024 consists of 6 key components:
- In-depth virtual discussion sessions with experts who share knowledge and insights that have the potential to significantly accelerate studios (monthly).
- Indie demo corner featuring Ontario indie games during IO Connect networking mixer events.
- 1-day in-person ISB Bootcamp (for both Ontario and across Canada participants) on marketing and discoverability with a complimentary VIP pass for participants to XP Game Summit.
- Invitation of 4 Publishers/Investors to XP Game Summit, including organized meetings with Ontario indies (ISB meetings tables in the B2B area).
- ISB content track at XP Game Summit.
- Diversity & Inclusion training for indie studios.
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 am – 5 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 & the Trade Commissioner Service for supporting the ISB program.
Selection Criteria
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
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Participants must be developing a video game on Steam for this bootcamp.
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Participants must be a from a Canadian studio.
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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.
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Participants must hold a senior leadership position in their organization (ie. Founder, Manager, Director).
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Leaders of this company must demonstrate their commitment to business growth and sustainability.
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Candidates who are under-represented members of the community (ie. BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and women) will receive extra consideration and priority.
Bootcamp Speakers
Inclusivity Workshop
Level up your team – Strategies for inclusive team building
Ready to build a stronger, more inclusive team? Whether you’re scaling your business, hiring interns, or about to launch a game, people are the core of your business.
Join our virtual inclusivity workshop designed just for you to help create and nurture an inclusive work environment in a remote world!
🌟 Craft inclusive onboarding experiences.
🌟 Gain expert insights on identifying unconscious bias.
🌟 Master tough conversations for a more inclusive workplace.
Workshop Details
When?
The two-part 90-minute virtual workshop will be on June 4, 2024, at 9:30 AM ET, followed by June 6, 2024 at 9:30 AM ET. Following the workshop, Ibiyemi Balogun and her associates will be conducting one-on-one follow-ups with each studio to provide coaching unique to each studio. Sign-ups will be made available over the period of July and August 2024.
Who?
The workshop will be led by Ibiyemi Balogun and her associates. Ibiyemi is a career and leadership coach with 10 years of experience spanning diversity recruitment, career development, sales, entrepreneurship, and leadership in the non-profit, post-secondary, and corporate sectors. She is the founder of Foot In The Door Consulting – (fitdconsulting.com) supporting individuals and corporations with developing early talent, and managing burnout & wellness while focused on building world-class leaders. She has an MBA from Ted Rogers School of Management focused on entrepreneurship and social innovation.
Learning objectives
- Identify unconscious biases in the workplace
- Learn how to build an inclusive onboarding process
- Understand how to navigate tough conversations in the workplace
Expected outcomes
- Framework for building inclusive teams
- Resources to develop a step-by-step onboarding guide
- Framework for having tough conversations
Pricing
- Interactive Ontario Members/CIAIC Members pay a $75 CAD Fee, or Non-Members pay a $350 CAD for participation in the two-day workshop and one-on-one.
Deadline to apply: April 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm ET. Spots are limited to a maximum of 10 participating studios. Decisions on the final selected participants will be made by IO and notifications will be sent by May 10, 2024.
Thank you to the Canada Media Fund & the City of Toronto for supporting the ISB Inclusivity Workshop.
Selection Criteria
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
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Participants must be a from a Canadian video game/XR studio.
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Preference will be given to established studios with at least 5 employees and a shipped video game/XR products.
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Leaders of this company must demonstrate their commitment to business growth and sustainability.
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Participants must hold a senior leadership position in their organization (ie. Founder, Manager, Director).
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Candidates who are led by under-represented members of the community (ie. BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and women) will receive extra consideration and priority.
Upcoming Online Talks
Check back soon for more info…
Pricing
IO/CIAIC Members:
Free
Non-Members:
$35+HST
Click here to learn about becoming an IO Member
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