The Lleida Paeria is launching a specific program for young people who want to make the leap into video game development, a booming sector where training and mentoring make all the difference. In this initiative, turn it into a game with real chances of reaching the market.
With a practical approach and free of charge for participants, the program combines training sessions, expert guidance, and financial support to facilitate each step. The kickoff begins with a 48-hour creative competition: The Ponent Game Jam, the starting point for selecting the projects that will move on to the incubation phase.
What the program proposes and who it is aimed at
The program is aimed at young talents from the city interested in the digital and creative fields, with the goal of promoting local entrepreneurship and innovation. For six months, teams receive personalized guidance, specific training, and ongoing support. The entire process is free and is focused on the commercial viability of the video game..
- Training on the sector and the different areas of development.
- Customized mentoring and advice from video game professionals.
- Project monitoring with production and quality milestones.
- Financial support of €1.000 for selected projects.
Ponent Game Jam, the starting point
The initiative begins with the Ponent Game Jam, held from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 October, in a format of 48 intense hours as a team. There, participants work on prototypes, sharing knowledge in a collaborative and creative environment, with the goal of demonstrating the potential of their ideas.
After the Jam, the most promising projects will be chosen to continue their development within the program. These teams will advance toward a more solid version of their game, with methodological and technical support to improve design, production and market readiness.
Incubation and workspaces
The selected projects will be incubated at the Casa de la Fusta Coworking Space at the Historic Centre, a space that will serve as the operational base for the itinerary. There, the teams will have mentoring of professionals in the sector and close monitoring to transform your prototype into a more polished product.
Support, assistance and partners
In addition to the six-month support and €1.000 grant per project, the program is co-organized by Òrbita25, an organization specializing in video games and digital art that provides expertise in design and development. The institutional support includes a grant of €15.000 from the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia, aimed at consolidating the creative and technological ecosystem in the city.
Lace inside HÔME
The incubation is part of the Lleida City Council's HÔME project, which integrates Housing, Employment, Mobility, and Entrepreneurship policies. It seeks to promote the emancipation and labor insertion of youth, while strengthening the territory's creative and digital industries.
With a combination of practical training, specialized mentoring, and financial support, the Paeria strengthens the local creative fabric and opens a clear path for young teams to shape their ideas. The Ponent Game Jam as a filter, the incubation at the Casa de la Fusta, and the institutional support They configure a complete itinerary towards a video game ready to compete in the market.