Game Design Future Lab

The Game Design Future Lab (GDFL) focuses on digital game design, development, infrastructure for games, and emerging media with the aim of increasing video gaming production for the current ecosystem, business growth of indie studios and supporting NYC entrepreneurs and digital game developers moving forward.

Overview

In partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the Game Design Future Lab (GDFL) will build a vibrant and inclusive community that positions New York City as a gaming capital. Gaming is at the heart of so many things: play, storytelling/narration, music, art/animation, training, education, and rehabilitation. GDFL strives to grow, support, and inspire knowledge sharing, foster creativity, and celebrate NYC’s diversity of people and cultures. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to excellence, GDFL will be an environment where community and industry can connect, thrive, and drive the future of digital gaming.

GDFL offers a 1-year in-person program designed to help digital gaming startups reach their goals by providing desk space, in-person staff support, academic and industry mentorship, networking opportunities, investor guidance, tailored workshops, and ofﬁce hours. The first year's cohort will consist of six game developers or startups.

Program

Selected participants will receive:

A 15-year track record of mentoring start-ups across various sectors, with a 93% success rate for businesses five years after founding (inverse of the national average)
Tailored mentorship and workshops according to the startup’s needs and goals
Connections to NYU faculty and NYU Tandon engineering expertise
Industry engagement and access to NYC events and programming
Dedicated desk space for up to two founders at the NYU Future Labs in Brooklyn, NY
Access to startup benefits (such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Hubspot credits)
Office hours with field experts
Support in applying for the New York State Digital Game Development Program an as-of-right tax credit of 25 – 35% for digital game designers developing projects in NYS
An equity-free program

FAQ

When does the program start?

Applications will launch on December 1, with the program starting beginning in March 2025.

Is the Game Design Future Lab part of NYU?

Yes we are! The GDFL is led by the NYU Tandon Future Labs in conjunction with the NYC Media Lab, both part of the Tandon School of Engineering. The Future Labs is a startup incubator network operator founded 15 years ago with initial funding from NYCEDC. The NYC Media Lab was launched by NYCEDC in 2010 to connect digital media and technology companies with New York City’s universities to drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and talent development.

How can the Game Design Future Lab help me?

Launching a startup can be a herculean task; making it successful can be even more challenging! The Game Design Future Lab is designed to help you get your company off the ground and on the right trajectory to success with advice, hands-on mentorship, and a growing network of collaborators and support. We can also help your company get exposure within the VC and investment community.

What makes the Game Design Future Lab different from other incubators?

NYC Design Future Lab is set apart from our competitors because we offer an invaluable comprehensive program that includes:

Industry experts as experienced mentors who are veterans of the gaming industry, providing valuable insights and guidance.
Customized guidance that caters to the specific needs of each game developer leading to more targeted and effective growth.
Access to cutting-edge technology, including the latest development tools, software, and hardware will give developers a competitive edge.
Strong network & community with connections to researchers, academics, publishers, distributors, and other key players in the industry.
A collaborative environment where gaming developers can share ideas and work together.
Targeted business development on strategies, monetization, and revenue models to help gaming developers create sustainable ventures.
Workshops & training offering sessions and courses on various aspects of game development.
User testing & quality assurance, facilitating user testing and providing feedback from actual gamers can help developers refine their games, and ensure that games are polished and free of major issues before launch.
Post-incubation support to help developers navigate the challenges of scaling their businesses.

Will I be given a workspace?

Up to two founders of each company/game are given free desk space at the Future Labs communal space at NYU Tandon's Brooklyn location. You’ll join an exciting group of entrepreneurs from the other incubators working in AI, cybersecurity, clean energy, veterans and more.

Staff

Craig Wilson

Managing Director, NYU Tandon Future Labs

Aubrey Hays

Director, Game Design Future Lab & NYC Media Lab

Mentors

The goal of mentorship programming is to provide the GDFL game developers or startups with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to grow and succeed in the competitive and rapidly evolving digital game industry.