Pilot programme to help firms set up begins at NDRC

Game Pad offers tailored mentoring to five games firms

NDRC chief executive Ben Hurley. The organisation publishes its annual report today. Photograph: Alan Betson
NDRC chief executive Ben Hurley. The organisation publishes its annual report today. Photograph: Alan Betson

A new accelerator programme designed to help independent games firms find their feet in the market has started a pilot run at NDRC.

GamePad, which is the first dedicated games accelerator scheme, is offering a tailored mentorship programme to five games firms, along with access to seed capital of €20,000.

The NDRC, which publishes its annual report today, has teamed up with Enterprise Ireland and Games Ireland to develop the scheme, which currently has five handpicked games firms taking part – Sock Monster Media, Brighthead Games, LoPoly Games, Pewter Games Studios and Dark Oasis.

Running parallel to NDRC’s established LaunchPad programme, the aim is to allow the start-up companies to develop successful games as well as a successful business model.

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist