A New Wave of Finnish Game Companies Is Being Built in Kajaani – a Record Number of Teams in the Growth Program
Finland’s most extensive game growth program brings together 13 teams, some of which aim for global markets from the very beginning.
The Kajaani Game Catalyst growth program for game companies currently involves a record 13 teams progressing from the early stages towards company formation and funding acquisition. Kajaani Game Catalyst is Finland’s only three-stage game growth program, covering the GameLAB, incubator, and accelerator phases.
– The game industry is undergoing a transformation, where agile and bold companies utilizing new technology can gain a significant competitive advantage in international markets and climb to the top of download charts ahead of established enterprises. Kajaani has built an entire system for this purpose, not just individual experiments, says Project Manager Joonas Pylvinen from Kajaani University of Applied Sciences.
Each year, the program receives 50–60 applications, some from ready-formed teams and others from individuals seeking a suitable team. About five teams are selected for the first phase. This year, six teams were chosen due to the high level of applicants and the opportunities provided by available resources. The program’s goal is to create altogether 12 new game companies, with two expected to grow rapidly.
Towards New Trends and International Growth in the Game Industry
Kajaani has a long history in game development education and entrepreneurship, and it is one of the few cities in Finland where the sector is supported in a versatile and long-term manner.
– Finland now needs new game studios that take advantage of the uncertainty brought by the industry’s transformation. In Kajaani, we are systematically building the next wave of Finnish game companies, says Pylvinen.
The new teams selected for GameLAB reflect emerging trends in the game industry: IP-driven game development, rapid publishing models, and new ways to leverage technology in saturated markets. The program includes international creators and teams building their operations globally from the start.
The most advanced teams in the growth program participate in international events such as Nordic Game in Sweden and Gamescom in Germany, aiming to secure funding, sign publishing agreements, and promote international growth.
The Kajaani Game Catalyst growth program is part of the Kainuu GEMS project, co-funded by the European Union, with a budget of €1.23 million over 3.5 years. The project is coordinated by Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, with the support of City of Kajaani.
More information:
Project Manager Joonas Pylvinen, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, joonas.pylvinen@kamk.fi, tel. +358 40 048 8669
