Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey folks,

Well, I finally took the plunge and incorporated a little games company this morning, Weyrell Ltd is now a thing...

It looks like I can get funding and support as a start-up which is great but as my market is STEM education it's a bit niche to say the least. I've created a quick survey, 20 multiple choice questions, which takes an average of 3 mins to complete. I know it's a bit of an ask but it would really help me out.

https://weyrell.typeform.com/to/FXxUPD

Thanks in advance for any who take the time!
Weyrell (Ltd!)

Done and good luck.

I have bought a few basic programming games in the past for kids and adults.

Done. I remember playing an ecology game when I was young. Great stuff.

submited!

Hey all,

I'm really grateful for the responses. I got nearly 500 within 24 hours which allowed me to generate a model with a +/- 5% margin of error. It was reviewed by the local enterprise committee and I'm now being put on the fast track for funding!

I know it's not the normal fare for Dakkanauts but could I keep putting updates here? You guys and gals are a real source of motivation for me.

As the local 'Pool guy says "maximum effort" ....
W

Whelp!

The business plan was approved by everyone who needed to do so and I'm heading for start-up investment meeting on Wednesday. Really nervous as this is the make-or-break for any substantive progress between now and Christmas.

It's been a lot of hard work to get to this stage and I've left as little to chance as possible... but If anyone is kind enough to keep fingers cross for me this week it would really be appreciated!


W

Filled in the survey. I hope it goes well for you!

Good luck old bean!

It's great to hear your progress.

Wow ... Getting funding is a tricky needle to thread! The criteria to gain start-up funding includes some of the things I needed the start-up funding for in the first place. Therefore my application has been deferred so I have to take the bull by the horns. With my first game ready to go it looks like as of writing the "inevitable crowdfunder" is the only way I can get this up and running. I'm thinking an indiegogo campaign would be the most effective given the small scale of this initial run, £500 - the minimum allowed, for it from July 15th. I'd have preferred to not go down this route but It's now the only way I can get this up and running.

The game, Amino, teaches those aged 8+ the principles of genetics and amino acid synthesis. For anyone interested more information on it can be can be found Here. It is tied into the curriculums and syllabuses almost every country in the world. I've mapped out a few Here.

Here's a shot of the actual cards!



Maximum effort!

I think this is a really cool idea. The cards look great.

Have you considered a game of sweet pea breeding or something like that to explain dominant and recessive alleles?

Well the Indiegogo campaign launched this afternoon and we've had our first few nibbles - (shameless plug) https://igg.me/at/aminothegame - Any shares or advice would be most appreciated..

We're also in the process of transforming the company from being purely a for profit entity to what's known as a "social enterprise". It means that any profit made is sunk back into R&D and our stated goal of providing additional resources to educators, schools and science clubs. This move has required a couple of paradigm changes but it aligns us to our goals in a clearer fashion.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
I think this is a really cool idea. The cards look great.

Have you considered a game of sweet pea breeding or something like that to explain dominant and recessive alleles?

Thanks! Attributes and heredity are a bit above where I'm pitching everything in this first round of development. We're trying to show that "hard sciences" are not only engaging but can be engaged with at a much younger age that currently targeted within the syllabus. I think that the next level up, so to speak, will highlight those kinds of aspects within genetics and other topics/areas.

O

We're currently sitting at 84% funded with 11 days to go do I'm pretty happy with the direction the small indiegogo is headed in. So much so that I've added in a set of 8 cards for Uracil, the 5th Nucleotide, plus the rules for using them. I'm currently redesigning them to make them more of a "backer exclusive" design so they'll stand out from the crowd once the RNA expansion is made available.



https://igg.me/at/aminothegame


Also, I have my organic chemistry game ready for playtesting... if anyone is interested?

We did it! Thanks to all of our contributors our first product is going to see the light of day! It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride but we start the last ten days in a fantastic position. This would never have happened without your support and advice.

In other news East Lothian Council have accepted our application for SEED funding and, once the contracts are signed next week, funds to cover marketing, improved web presence and further research and development will be made available to us. This, I feel, will support us very effectively in the short-to-mid term while allowing us to whip our next two products into shape.



What a great way to get something into production!
Darren

Well done!

I strongly support your initiative and congratulate you on your SEED funding.

Please keep us up to date with your progress.

The campaign closed out this morning at 119% funded. Very, very pleased with the way it went but that is coloured by the social contract i've entered into with the backers. I've laid out the delivery schedule for them in the latest update so they should be receiving their games at the end of September. Backers came from UK, USA and Spain.

The seed funding, roughly £12k, comes in four chunks over the next calendar year meaning that I can focus on marketing and new product development rather than be "too" dependent on closing sales month-by-month. Networking and getting articles, reviews and endorsements for the games is the focus of this next year.

If anyone would be interested I can write up a case study of how I got to this stage? Might be of use as it comes in from a "non-gaming" gaming perspective, if you know what I mean... The market research phase alone was crucial in establishing confidence in the idea from local government funders.

Thanks for all the support and messages. It really did help get me here.

O

Welp ... after a successful funding campaign and a change of printers look what arrived today! 100 units of my first game.

They look great! Any chance of a review copy for DakkaDakka? I could let my daughter try them out at school.