Calling all Joburg Creatives & Geeks! Maxum Digital and mLab is heading to your city with an exciting new support programme focusing on Video & Mobile Game development, Animation and 3D Design, Simulation and Augmented Reality!

To apply please read the expression of interest and complete the submission form below. Closing date for this round of applications is 30 September 2014

For more info please contact Lufuno Ramabulana at lramabulana@theinnovationhub.com

CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO JOIN ON THE INNOVATION HUB MANAGEMENT COMPANY’S NEW DIGITAL MEDIA INCUBATION PROGRAMME

The Innovation Hub Management Company (Pty) Ltd (TIHMC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (“GGDA”) an agency of the Gauteng Provincial Government in South Africa, through its Department of Economic Development (“DED”) and full member of the International Association of Science Parks. In accordance with its vision, TIHMC strives _“__To be a model science park and the innovation agency of choice for fostering socio economic development and competitiveness in Gauteng.”_TIHMC stands as a credible organization that understands and fosters innovation, entrepreneurship as well as effective innovation eco-systems.

The Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), based at WITS University is multifaceted with various programmes and facilities positioning it as a focal point of a software development industry for South Africa and the rest of the continent. The JCSE strongly supports the City’s “Joburg 2030 Vision”, which sees Johannesburg becoming a World Class city with service delivery and efficiencies that meet global best practice. It supports this goal by promoting best practice in software development within an African context; growing the country’s capacity to deliver world class software; and developing research and training initiatives to strengthen the local software development industry.

TIHMC and JCSE are in partnership to establish Maxum Digital Media in Johannesburg; a business incubator for support and acceleration of digital media start-ups and indie game developers. Other services will include the provision of production and testing platforms, ideation and market development workshops, hackathons, tech training and thought leadership events in digital media.

The major demand-driven focus areas for the Maxum Digital Media are:

• Video Game Development;
• Mobile Game Development in partnership with mLab Southern Africa;
• Animation;
• 3D Modeling/Simulation; and Augmented Reality

Entrepreneurs and developers in the digital media space are invited to apply to join MAXUM Digital Media business incubator. Passion, drive, skills and a winning concept in the above focus areas will be considered. Interested candidates should comply with the following minimum requirements:

• Must be a startup in the digital media space
• Skilled Team members;
• Innovative ideas or concepts applicable to the above focus areas.
• Commercially viable concept or prototype.

Interested candidates are invited to submit an Expression of Interest in the form of a 2-3 page Proposal document clearly articulating their concept, designs, areas of expertise, skills, team composition, market potential and the status of ideas (whether concept or prototype).

No later than 30 September 2014 at 23h59.

The innovation Hub Management Company reserves the right to accept any application.

Applications are now closed. Please keen an eye on this site and @mlabsa for announcements of a new round of applications coming soon.

* Credit for Joburg skyline image http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JohannesburgArtisticSilhouette.svg