2027 Studios Announced!

DUNDEV - A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE

DunDev has been refreshed for 2027, supporting our new Fresh Start Pathway studios!

Founders from promising early-stage studios currently undertaking our Fresh Start Pathway will join our unique residential programme in Scotland’s Sunniest City to focus on foundership development.

Follow #DunDev on socials for updates!

Get a feel for how DunDev 2026 went in this short film.

Watch the full length documentary following the 2026 studios here.

What is DunDev?

DunDev acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurial early-stage studios to focus on the important stuff; building on solid foundations and the business of making games. Studios spend the week receiving expert guidance and hands-on workshops, all leading towards the chance to pitch to the Prototype Fund at the end of the week.

The Fresh Start studios were selected from a competitive application process to join the Starter Fund: Fresh Start programme in October 2026. The founders of these studios will come together in January 2027 for a week-long residential programme in Dundee, Scotland.

Studios are provided with top quality accommodation, access to structured support, and a packed schedule of events designed to build on their successful endeavours.

At the end of DunDev, the participating studios will be invited to pitch to the UK Games Fund for Prototype Fund support for the continued commercial development of their games.

All participating studios have been receiving one-to-one support from hand-picked UKGTF community members, helping to build ideas for growth and sustainable studio practices.

Entrepreneurialism, creativity, business management skills and technological innovation form the pillars of DunDev, with studios encouraged during the hot-housing to accelerate their learning in the art of running a successful independent game development studio.

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What is the Starter Fund?

The Starter Fund offers early stage games development studios the unique opportunity to access funding under the banner of support from the UK Games Fund. The fund is split into two Pathways.

The Fresh Start pathway is for those who would benefit from more structured programme of support over the course of the Starter Fund, whilst the Head Start pathway is designed for those who are confident in their abilities to get to the point of applying to the Prototype Fund with grant support alone.

Studios currently on the Fresh Start Pathway are receiving a structured programme of business support with industry expert facilitation, market guidance, audience development work, and network building, all leading towards the opportunity for studios to pitch for Prototype Grant funding at the end of DunDev 2027.

Click here to learn more about the Starter Fund

What can the studios get out of DunDev?

DunDev will give the Fresh Start studio founders dedicated time away from their day-to-day routines to focus on their businesses, consider their growth ambitions and learn alongside others navigating the early stages of building sustainable games studios.

Over the course of DunDev, the studio founders will work both individually and collaboratively, exploring the options available to their early-stage companies and reflect on how to take their businesses forward in the commercial games sector.

All studios will pitch to the UK Games Fund review panel at the end of DunDev for possible Prototype Fund grant support for the continued commercial development of the project worked on during their time on the Fresh Start pathway.

What will the studios learn?

Whilst previous years of DunDev have placed the focus on hands on development of new IP, DunDev 2027 will focus primarily on the founders at the heart of the Fresh Start Pathway early-stage companies.

Founders will experience opportunities that will prove transformational for their entrepreneurial success, with structured support and the possibility to expand their professional networks as well as the potential of securing further development funding from the UK Games Fund.

With input from industry veterans, as well as vital peer support from the UKGTF community, DunDev is a unique collaborative learning opportunity for the studios, with exclusive access to bespoke business development interventions and tailored one-to-one expert support.