Scaffold: A “Game”-Changing Initiative to Propel Alberta’s Gaming Industry to New Heights
In partnership with Alberta Innovates and PrairiesCan: Scaffold Creating Accelerated Supply of Investable Startups
Calgary, Alberta, June 12 – Scaffold, a groundbreaking multi-year ecosystem development program, is revolutionizing Alberta’s gaming industry landscape with startups at the forefront. Led by Matt Toner, Managing Partner of Shred Capital, the initiative aims to double the number of small – and medium-sized businesses in the province’s gaming sector by fostering innovation and attracting investment for promising startups.
Scaffold will provide instruction, mentorship, and workshops to help Alberta gaming entrepreneurs and businesses achieve success. The program is designed to provide coordinated support to help game developers access the resources and expertise they require to launch new products. Participants will gain valuable knowledge in a variety of areas – including investment attraction, marketing, staffing, and partnership development – to help them effectively commercialize their interactive digital media products. Scaffold will include both online and in-person components, making it easier for game developers across Alberta to build their skills.
“The game industry is clearly in need of initiatives like Scaffold to reshape the industry landscape,” remarked Matt Toner. “By focusing on creating investable gaming companies from the remarkably rich grassroots game industry in Alberta, this approach gives us a chance to build back in a better way.”
With a vision to rebuild the gaming industry in a more sustainable, proactive, and resilient manner, Scaffold has garnered significant support from both government and private sectors. The $2 million program has received $1 million in funding from PrairiesCan, the federal department that supports economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces. PrairiesCan funding is being delivered through its Regional Innovation Ecosystems program. This program creates, grows, and nurtures inclusive regional ecosystems that support what a business needs to innovate from start to finish and provides an environment where companies can innovate, grow, and compete.
In addition, this initiative is also receiving $750,000 from Alberta Innovates, a provincial organization that aims to accelerate research and innovations that benefit Albertans, and $250,000 from Shred Capital.
“Our government is making investments that empower innovative entrepreneurs across the Prairies to bring their ideas to market and grow their businesses,” said the Honorable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan. “Our partnership with Scaffold will bolster the capacity of Alberta’s tech firms to commercialize their digital media products and help drive the growth of Alberta’s interactive media sector as part of a resilient economy that supports jobs for Albertans.”
“Alberta is home to talented and leading-edge innovators in the digital media sector who are on the cusp of scaling up and bringing their products to global markets,” said George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview. “I’m proud to see our government ensuring these entrepreneurs have access to the training, mentorship and resources needed to succeed in the exciting field of video games and interactive media while solidifying Alberta’s emerging leadership in this growing industry.”
“We are very pleased to support the work Shred Capital and Scaffold are doing through the Alberta Innovates ’Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program,” says Doug Holt, Associate Vice President, Capital Development at Alberta Innovates. “Scaffold serves as a catalyst for growth; bridging the gap between talent and global capital in gaming. We see this as an essential opportunity to grow the gaming industry landscape in Alberta with a clear focus on creating investable gaming companies.”
“When we make a decision about investing – either short-term or long-term – we have seen really great prospects in Western Canada,” said Yechiel Kopelowitz, Shred Capital’s New York-based partner. “What the Scaffold program allows us to do is meet amazing founders with great ideas but who might be missing a piece. Rather than pass on the deal, we help them fill in that blank spot to become investable.”
Participation in the Scaffold program operates on a cohort system and so far, each cohort has been fully subscribed. This demonstrates the need for programs like this and the excitement for the next big thing in gaming in both the gaming community and venture capital organizations.
Scaffold will host the inaugural Scaffold Game Investors Summit in Banff this October. The Summit will bring together industry experts from across the globe to assess, discuss, ideate and invest in the new landscape of Alberta’s gaming industry.
For more information on the Summit please visit: gameinvestwest.ca. For more information on Scaffold, please visit alberta.scaffold-institute.com.
Media Contact
Kim Bowie
Media Relations
kimber@kimberink.com
About Scaffold
Scaffold is committed to supporting founders in building investable startups that contribute to the growth and vibrancy of the Canadian gaming ecosystem. Through strategic partnerships and a comprehensive support network, Scaffold is poised to shape the future of gaming innovation in Alberta and beyond. Through partnerships with key stakeholders like PrairiesCan and Alberta Innovates, Scaffold aims to create investable companies that meet the demand for venture capital in the region.