In a second round of investment, Abertay Dundee has awarded nine up-and-coming videogame companies a share of £225,000 from the £5 million Prototype Fund.
The nine recipients of the £25,000 grants are based variously in Dundee, London and Liverpool and were chosen from a total of 47 applicants. They include graduate start-ups, mobile and social gaming studios, and audio engineering and voiceover recording specialists.
Five of the successful companies will now use Abertay University's prototyping studio space, and one of nine has secured a six-figure publishing deal after receiving Prototype funding.
“By investing directly in these businesses, Abertay University is giving them the opportunity to develop a prototype – either to take to market, or to secure additional private investment," says Abertay University director of business development Paul Durrant.
“This is a very different and very important role for Abertay University to take, further developing our support for the computer games industry which has such enormous economic potential for the UK. The Prototype Fund is part of our continuing campaign to improve the availability of working capital and grow the talent base.”
Adamant Studios lead designer Khaled Al-Hurby added: “This funding is a godsend, allowing our team of graduates to quit their jobs and focus on launching the company. It’s also very rewarding to receive the endorsement that our idea is commercially viable."
Applications for the third round of funding are now open, and will remain so until December 14.