The Summit Push Program aims to increase the visibility of local video game companies by showcasing their work at internationally recognized events and providing support to engage their ideal investment targets. The Summit Push Program includes an educational component to prepare participants to showcase at these events through workshops or other activities about exhibitor strategies, presentation skills, and effective networking at industry events.

The ESIO will lead and coordinate showcase opportunities at specified international markets for participants by providing access exhibition space for demos, sponsored events, meetings, and other events or activations benefiting the group. The ESIO will also provide financial support to successful applicants to help alleviate the burden of costs studios face in preparing to attend these events.

Program Highlights

  • Educational opportunities for team members to learn more about commercialization, pitching, showcasing and more
  • Program participants will provide mentorship to participants of the Trailhead program (mentors will receive a nominal stipend for their mentorship time)
  • Booth space at Game Con Canada to showcase the game
  • Registration and exhibition space at gamescom in Cologne, Germany
  • $5,000 per studio to assist with costs to make it easier to attend the market

Eligibility

  • This program is open to video game studios based in the Edmonton region.
  • Applicants must have an ownership stake in the project.
  • Applicants must be in good standing with Edmonton Screen.
  • Projects must be in mid- to late-stage development or ready to launch
  • Projects must have a demo ready and available for submission
  • Projects that contain propaganda; elements of serious or gratuitous sexual violence or exploitation; obscene, indecent or pornographic content within the meaning of the Criminal Code; or elements which are libelous or in any other way unlawful, are ineligible.

Application Information

Companies may only submit one project each.

Application Requirements
Information required for the application form:

  • Applicant contact information (name, company, phone, address, etc.)
  • Project Information
    • Title
    • Description (1000 characters max)
    • Status (1000 characters max)
    • Studio Objectives (1000 characters max)
    • Demo Link

This is a competitive process and the following general criteria will be used to assess funding requests:

  • Alignment to one or more ESIO Objectives
  • Studio Readiness
  • Project Readiness

Other criteria may also be considered. Priority will be given to companies and/or projects that have not participated in the program previously.

Process

  • All applications will first be reviewed for eligibility.
  • Eligible applications will then be assessed based on the criteria above.
  • Applicants will be notified within 14 days of a completed application of the status.
  • Applications Open: March 17
  • Applications Close: April 4
  • Notification by: April 18
  • Reporting due by: September 23
  • Programming begins: May 1
  • Game Con Canada: June 13-15
  • Gamescom: August 20-24

Detailed recognition and reporting requirements can be found in the participant toolkit.
Fianl reporting will be due 30 days after the completion of Gamescom and will be indicated in the funding agreement provided.

Applicants with overdue final reporting for this program will not be eligible for future ESIO funding until the reporting is submitted.

Ready to apply?

Applications open: March 17
Applications close: April 4, 2025 @ 4:00 PM (MT)

CONTACT US

For information about the program, eligibility, exceptions to any of the above, or the application process, please email us.

[email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

We ask that you chose one main project to showcase. However, if you have other projects, you are welcome to talk about them and may show them on a one off basis.

No. In order to ensure that a project meets our eligibility and is at a stage that it is ready to showcase, applications must include a playable demo. Studios are also required to show their demo at Game Con Canada.

Related Links

Past Investments

See past funding recipients and program participants

Learn More

Participant Toolkit

Details on recognition and reporting requirements

Learn More

Logos and Branding

Access to ESIO logo files for recognition

Learn More