Digital Media & Gaming Incubator
News & Events
APRIL 2020
XP Game Developers Online
XP Game Developers Online
XP Game Developers Online is a free online alternative to XP Game Developer Summit. This event continues to support industry growth by providing professional development opportunities to expand the skills and network of industry professionals. Join online from April 28 + 29 at www.xpsummit.ca.
Connectivity Innovation Awards
Taiwan is extending the Connectivity Innovation Awards called “Mobileheroes” to international entrepreneurs and startups. They are looking for solutions that will make cities a better place. Solutions related to smart transportation, smart governance, smart agriculture, smart healthcare, smart education, smart retail, smart tourism etc. are all welcome. The awards are $30,000 USD and $15,000 USD. Teams need to submit their proposal and video by May 22 with judging to be completed for their award ceremony in November. This is also a great way to get connected with major Taiwanese industries. Apply online
Coronavirus Live Status App
Meet one of our incubator alum: Comfable Inc. This startup integrates hardware and software to address public health concerns. They developed the Coronavirus Live Status app that provides real-time information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
JANUARY 2020
SSHRC Storytellers Contest
SSHRC has now launched its annual Storytellers Contest, a challenge directed to postsecondary students to creatively show Canadians how social sciences and humanities research has an impact on our lives and on our communities.
Eligibility: This contest is open to all students enrolled at a Canadian postsecondary institution (also, must be a Canadian resident and 19 years of age or older).
Task: Tell the story (in 3 minutes or 300 words) of a SSHRC-funded research project taking place at their institution. The submission must be an original work (video, audio, text or infographic file) featuring SSHRC-funded research carried out at the institution at which the student is enrolled at the time of submission.
Prize: 25 finalists will receive a $3000 cash prize and will be asked to attend SSHRC’s Research Communications Workshop, and the Storytellers Showcase, both being held at the 2020 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in London, Ontario.
Deadline: January 28, 2020.
For more information, please visit the SSHRC website
DECEMBER 2019
Holiday Pop Up
Looking for the perfect gift for family and friends? Drop by the Holiday Pop Up Shop on Thursday, December 5 and meet local makers and alumni entrepreneurs. The Holiday Pop Up will be taking place in the Student Gallery at the School of Design (3 Lower Jarvis, Second Floor) from 11 am to 2 pm.
Exhibitors include Think Dirty, My Wine Canada, Caitlin Legere Design, Natural Bliss Infusions, Made by Moi Cakes, Koukla Designs by Christina Nasiopoulos and more!
NOVEMBER 2019
Global Entrepreneurship Week
From November 18-24, 2019, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) will inspire people around the world through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.
In conjunction with StartGBC, we are hosting the Alumni Founders Panel on Tuesday, November 19 (6-8 pm) at 3 Lower Jarvis as part of GEW.
Be inspired as five School of Design alumni take the stage to share their journeys after college and how they launched their companies. Speakers include Francis Luta of PictureHausFilms (filmmaker and designer), Jamie Mageau of Magoob Toys (Sr. Art Director and toymaker), Dymika Harte of UNSGND (designer), Amy Wong (digital producer) and designer Alex Wigington ElAsfahani of ModernKind Inc.
For more details about this event click here.
Please RSVP your spot here (limited seats).
SR&ED Workshop
Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) Talk
Join us for a special presentation on programs to support start-ups on November 20 (1-2 pm) at the Incubator (3 Lower Jarvis).
Learn more about SR&ED, a tax credit program available to companies in Canada. SR&ED tax credits are provided to organizations who are performing R&D, based on the amount of qualified SR&ED expenditures.
The session will be presented by Ahmad Atoui, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA),
Please RSVP for your free spot (limited seats).
OCTOBER 2019
Arts Futures 2019
Call for Applicants: Arts Futures 2019 – Immersive Technology as an Artistic Medium
Arts Futures 2019: Immersive Technology as an Artistic Medium is a week-long intensive program on virtual reality production.
The program will take place from November 25 – 29, 2019 in Toronto at the Toronto Media Arts Centre (32 Lisgar Street).
This event is hosted by Interactive Ontario and the Cultural Human Resources Council with support from Canada Council for the Arts’ Digital Strategy Fund, the Canadian Media Producers Association and the ACTRA Fraternal Benefit Society with Programming Partner: Toronto Media Arts Centre/Dames Making Games.
Program Fee: $250 (includes all programming and breakfast and lunch each day)
Virtual reality offers tremendous potential for the creation of artistic works and narratives. This program will help artists and digital producers across all disciplines take advantage of the opportunities for storytelling and audience engagement offered by immersive technology.
Fifteen participants from across Canada will spend five days in Toronto undertaking an intensive program of hands-on workshops on virtual reality production and distribution as the Arts Futures 2019 cohort.
Looking for full program details? Visit: interactiveontario.com/programs/arts_futures_2019
Deadline to apply: October 11th
Participants will be notified of the status of their application by October 17.
Women Entrepreneurship Week
George Brown College joins over 150 universities and colleges in celebration of Women Entrepreneurship Week from October 19-26, 2019. Join us on campus for a week of events featuring women entrepreneurs and hear from alumni. Hosted by StartGBC, more details available here.
Research & Innovation Showcase
Join the School of Design on October 24 for the Research and Innovation Showcase, a celebration of applied research at George Brown College. Featuring panelists, equipment demonstrations, student awards, exciting industry innovation and a showcase of research. To register for the Showcase, link here
SEPTEMBER 2019
JumpStarter 2020: Semi Pitch
JUMPSTARTER is a not-for-profit initiative curated by the Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund that provides a platform for all entrepreneurs and young people to jump start their dreams in Hong Kong.
Those shortlisted for the Grand Finale in Hong Kong will be competing for the chance to win shared investment of up to US$5 million, a share of US$100k cash prize, and so much more.
More information can be found at: https://www.jumpstarter.hk/en/location/toronto-regional
This event is organized by Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund. The deadline for startups to apply is September 18th, 2019. Applications can be completed online.
Global Goals Jam
The Toronto Global Goals Jam is a two-day event to engage designers, developers and strategists to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals by creating short-term interventions with long-term impact. Takes place from September 20-22 at the School of Design.
Hosted by The Institute without Boundaries at George Brown College in partnership with Claro Ventures
Elevate
Elevate: Canada’s Tech Festival
Hosted in the heart of Toronto from September 20-26, 2019, the festival features world-class speakers, interactive experiences & highly anticipated socials.
JULY 2019
A New Home for the Incubator
We’ve moved! The Digital Media and Gaming Incubator is relocating to a new state-of-the-art facility. Located within the Daniels Waterfront—City of the Arts complex at Queens Quay East and Jarvis Street, it joins the School of Design’s new home.
Osgoode Venture Capital Clinic 2019
The Osgoode Venture Capital Clinic (OVC) is a Clinical Project designed by Osgoode Hall Law School and Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, Canada’s leading stand-alone corporate finance law firm, to provide free legal services to early stage entrepreneurial ventures. Working with Osgoode Hall Law Students and lawyers from Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, entrepreneurs are able to receive legal advice and services. Deadline for 2019 applications: July 26, 2019.
IT’S A START Pitch Competition Winners
Congrats to Stan A.I. the world’s first property management assistant for condominiums powered by artificial intelligence, has won the Digifest IT’S A START Pitch Competition 2019. Stan A.I. works with all management software eliminating the need to learn or switch software, no clunky portals to update.
Ten startups were selected to pitch their ideas in front of a live audience and judges at Digifest 2019.
Other winners of the 2019 IT’S A START Pitch Competition include:
First Place: STAN A.I.
Second Place: LinkMentalHealth
Third Place: Shuttershare
People’s Choice: Retreat
Honourable Mention: Mero