Video gaming is a serious passion for gamers of all ages, requiring commitment, dedication, and ingenuity to complete missions, defeat bosses, and achieve records. Similarly, startup founders engage in various challenges to develop their entrepreneurial projects, testing them and raising their ambitions through creativity and innovation. A common mindset often drives both worlds, focusing on achieving results through inventive approaches.

The global gaming market, valued at over 180 billion dollars in 2024 according to industry studies, presents numerous opportunities for inspiration and innovative startup ideas. This is evident in the examples of young companies born and nurtured within I3P, the Incubator of the Polytechnic University of Turin, which are actively contributing to the video game developer landscape for both general consumers and B2B segments.

On Wednesday, May 7, a free gathering named Startup Your Game! will take place at 5:00 PM in-person at I3P, providing attendees with the chance to meet four innovative companies in the gaming field. Each business, grounded in different technologies and goals, shares a high degree of innovation. The stories and future perspectives will be shared by Tiny Bull Studios, Proxy42, Paperbox Health, and Triality Studio, all of which have received support from the incubator over the years. Participants will also have the chance to learn about IIDEA, the Italian video game industry association, dedicated to enhancing the role of video games in the economy, society, and culture of the country.

How to Participate

The gathering will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 5:00 PM in the Agorà Room of the I3P Incubator, located within the Campus of the Polytechnic University of Turin, accessible from the official entrance at Corso Castelfidardo 30/A and the pedestrian entrance at Via Borsellino 53/N.

This meeting, supported by the Piemonte Region through the European Social Fund Plus (FSE+), is free of charge, subject to registration.

Program

• 5:00 PM | Audience welcome
• 5:10 PM | Introduction by Paola Mogliotti, Director of I3P, and opening remarks by Ludovico Del Carretto, Business Consultant at I3P
• 5:15 PM | The video game industry in Italy - Davide Mancini, Developer Relations Manager at IIDEA
• 5:30 PM | The story of Tiny Bull Studios - Matteo Lana, Co-Founder & CEO
• 5:40 PM | The venture of Proxy42 - Francesco Ferrazzino, Co-Founder & CEO
• 5:50 PM | The project of Paperbox Health - Francesco Trovato, Co-Founder & CEO
• 6:00 PM | The vision of Triality Studio - Marco Verdese, Co-Founder & CEO
• 6:10 PM | Roundtable on the prospects for startups in the gaming sector
• 6:40 PM | Q&A session with the audience
• 7:00 PM | Conclusion of the meeting

Involved Entities

Founded in 1999, I3P (Incubator of Innovative Enterprises at the Polytechnic University of Turin) supports the birth and development of innovative startups with high technological intensity and growth potential, established by both university researchers and external entrepreneurs. It offers strategic consulting services, coaching, mentoring, fundraising support, and workspace. I3P's mission is to sustain the entrepreneurship ecosystem, aiming to generate economic development and employment within innovative industrial sectors, in collaboration with institutions and private entities committed to research, higher education, technology transfer services, innovation funding, and internationalization.

IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association) is the industry association for video games in Italy, founded in the early 2000s to represent and unite the sector through a unified approach. It currently has over 80 members, including console producers, publishers, game developers, and esports operators such as video game competition organizers and teams. IIDEA is part of a network of international industry associations and is affiliated with Video Games Europe and the European Game Developers Federation in a European context. IIDEA's mission is to create a favorable environment for the industry’s development in Italy and to enhance the significance of video games in the economy, society, and culture of the country.

Tiny Bull Studios is an independent studio founded in 2011 in Turin, focusing on narrative video games characterized by engaging and innovative experiences. The studio has published titles like Blind, a thriller adventure in VR based entirely on sound perception, and Omen Exitio: Plague, a digital gamebook inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's stories. Currently, it is working on new titles set for release in 2025, including the highly anticipated sequel Omen Exitio: Hunger and the fantasy action RPG The Lonesome Guild. The studio's mission is to explore the narrative and immersive potential of video games, always aiming to create unique and memorable experiences for an international audience.

Proxy42 is a gaming and tech company specialized in immersive gaming experiences utilizing AR (augmented reality), XR (extended reality), and AI. Its first title, Father.IO, was the first innovative multiplayer mobile shooter in augmented reality, achieving over 5 million downloads globally. The latest project, World League Live! (WLL), is a fan engagement platform that connects fans with teams, athletes, and sponsors through gaming and play-to-earn mechanics, offering live streaming and exclusive interactions through AI and AR, including the chance to play alongside sports stars, such as soccer legend Alessandro Del Piero.

Paperbox Health aims to make early identification of Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) accessible. With DINO, an innovative gaming tool, children from preschool can play while being evaluated: in just 15 minutes and at low cost, it is possible to identify the risk of developing SLD, thereby reducing under-identification rates. Paperbox Health combines technology and play to provide effective and inclusive solutions, assisting families and schools in fostering every child's wellbeing and academic success.

Triality Studio is a young company that merges a passion for video games and culture. Using VR (virtual reality), the startup recreates artworks and historical sites, enhancing them with gamification elements for engaging and interactive experiences, aiming to combine learning with fun.