Join the Pre-Incubator Program for the Creative Industries!

Do you have an interesting idea?
Want to turn your creative skills into a superpower?

Next call for applications opens in August 2023!

About you

Digital creatives come in a dizzying array of different aspirations, ideas, styles and dreams. Some of you just want to explore, some create something tangible and new, and some aspire to radically change the world.

To apply you need to have a background in the creative industries and a business idea you would like to explore further in this program. Previous business experience is not required.

The business idea could be inspired by, but is not limited to, the following topics:

new methods and formats for audiovisual storytelling
technology-enhanced art, design, and entertainment
augmentation of human creativity through computational methods
creation of novel interactive experiences
platforms for/by the creative industries

About us

Aalto Digital Creatives pre-incubator program aims to help creative industry students, researchers and practitioners on their path towards entrepreneurship.

The program is supported by the City of Helsinki and it’s part of Helsinki-based higher education institutions’ campus incubators network. Aalto Digital Creatives program is coordinated by Aalto Startup Center and Aalto Studios.

Aalto Startup Center

Aalto Startup Center is a hybrid accelerator offering its own incubator and accelerator services, as well as several partnership programs. Its focus is on sustainable research-based and innovative deep-tech startups.

Aalto Studios

Aalto Studios is the media center of the future. It brings together people who have an interest in using and exploring digital media for their studies, research and work such as designers, filmmakers, youtubers, game developers, performing artists, educators, angel investors and public sector organizations.

The professionals at Aalto Studios are eager to help you with film, TV, games and animation, VR/AR/XR, product and user experience testing, sensor data analysis, digital communications and maker culture inspired fast prototyping.

Aalto Digital Creatives program

Making use of Aalto University’s From Ideas to Impact® model, the core of this pre-incubator program is to coach early-stage teams to seek out and maximize their own unique potential to grow and scale up.

With the help of Aalto Startup Center’s business advisory services, the teams produce new business ideas, connect with potential industry partners, iterate their business plans, define potential customers and plan how to attract them.

The program runs for 13 weeks and there are two batches per year, one from March to June and a second from September to December. There will be 10 to 15 teams or a maximum of 30 people accepted into each batch.

The program consists of six modules which introduce the basics of Asset Development, Solution Development and Business Development.

Each module consists of workshop days, face-to-face coaching and online sessions with the selected keynote speakers. Coaching sessions and workshops are organised at Aalto University’s campus in Otaniemi, Espoo.

Mentoring is offered to the participants throughout the program together with access to training and networking events, help with matchmaking and connecting with industry experts.

What you get from the program in a nutshell?

Access to Aalto Startup Center’s premises, trainings and events
One-to-one coaching with business advisors and creative industry experts
Access to Aalto University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem’s services
Full membership of Aalto Fablab’s services (one per team)
Matchmaking with companies from the creative industries
Access to Aalto Digital Creatives events

Apply

The next call for applications opens in August 2023.

Applications are accepted from teams or individuals with a background in the creative industries whether it is education or experience. Your focus should be in combining creativity with new digital technologies.

The application process is split into two parts. To apply, first fill out the application form which will be available on this website when the application period opens.

If your application is selected for the second part of the application process you will be requested to send in a pitch deck. Instructions for creating the pitch deck will be provided via e-mail.

If you have questions about the application process, please contact us at digitalcreatives@aalto.fi

Events

Art & Tech Open Call Demo Day – 24.3.2023

Time: 12.00 – 15.00 | Place: Laippatie 14, Helsinki

Welcome to the Aalto Digital Creatives Art & Tech Open Call Demo Day where you have the chance to find out more about the Open Call ’23 and experience Aalto Studios’ state-of-the-art facilities.

The Art & Tech Open Call ‘23 partners with the City of Helsinki, Yle, AVEK and Genelec to award the winning projects with development funding between EUR 5 000–15 000 per project and Genelec products.

Creative Technologies talk – 30.3.2023

Time: 14.00 – 16.00 | Place: Harald Herlin Learning Centre, Hybrid Stage (K floor) & Online

The series of talks brings together researchers and experts from the fields of computational science, creative technologies, arts and design. In each event two researchers present their recent work whereafter the audience have the chance to ask questions and network with the Creative Technologies community.

The theme of the next seminar is Knowledge, belief, and otherness. In this event, talks will be given by Laura Beloff, Associate Professor of Visual Culture and Artistic Practices at Aalto University, and artist, researcher Joshua Sofaer. The event will be hosted by Mikko Sams, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Aalto University.

Creative Technologies seminar 6.10.2022

Time: 14:00-16:00 | Place: Hybrid Stage, Makerspace, Harald Herlin Learning Center, Otaniementie 9, Espoo

Aalto University launched a new seminar series in the field of Creative Technologies in autumn 2022. The purpose is to build a community to raise the quality of research in the area of creative technology among the international network of researchers in Aalto University.

We welcome you to the second Creative Technologies seminar on 6.10.2022. At this event we will have presentations from Hironori Yoshida (Future University Hakodate) and Mary Lou Maher (UNC Charlotte). Hironori Yoshida’s presentation will focus on design and fabrication with non-standard materials, in relation to the recent and future interaction technologies. Mary Lou Maher talks about interacting with creative artificial intelligence and the opportunities given by the intentionally designed interaction.