Conference
Designing Spaces
LÄND-made
ON SITE
Raum Reutlingen
Thursday, May 07, 10:00
From Prototype to Market: Building the Next Wave of Creative Startups in Baden-Württemberg
Everyone talks about innovation. This session talks about execution. Where do creatives in Stuttgart or Ludwigsburg go when they want to turn ideas into real companies? Can the region’s games, app and software industries compete (inter)nationally? And what support, funding and structures are in place to help them get there? After a brief introduction from Kokolores Collective and the Sandbox Software Accelerator, we’ll dive into real-world examples and meet three young local companies: a media startup, an anti-media startup, and a game studio.
On stage with us:
- Locksmith - uses AI to make virtual studio production faster and more flexible, replacing the need for green screens
- Detach - an app to finally reduce your screen time. Win back 2 hours a day and do more things!
- Trapped Predator - an indie game studio and media production house based in Ludwigsburg
To conclude this session featuring regional talent, there will be a brief presentation from ArenaLAB, the recently established innovation platform in Ludwigsburg. Till May 14th creatives are invited to send in their concepts for fresh approaches to fan experiences.
Patrick Marcel Benito, CEO & Co-Founder, Gamedeveloper, Filmmaker & Actor, Trapped Predator
Patrick Marcel Benito is the co-founder of Trapped Predator, an indie game studio and media start-up based in Ludwigsburg, which he established in 2018 together with his colleague Kyra E. Lukas. Both founders have a background in filmmaking; since 2020, however, the studio has focused primarily on game development.
In addition to developing serious games for clients, Trapped Predator creates story-driven games that often draw on the team’s filmmaking background and feature a diverse cast of characters. The studio has also long been deeply engaged with the genre of interactive film, with a particular focus on combining FMV (full-motion video) and gameplay elements in new and innovative ways.
In their projects, Patrick focuses on coding, game-, narrative-, and sound design, as well as composing original music.
Kyra E. Lukas, CEO & Co-Founder, Gamedeveloper, Filmmaker & Actress, Trapped Predator
Kyra E. Lukas is the co-founder of Trapped Predator, an indie game studio and media production based in Ludwigsburg, which she established in 2018 together with her colleague Patrick Marcel Benito. Both founders have a background in filmmaking; since 2020, however, the studio has focused primarily on game development.
In addition to developing serious games for clients, Trapped Predator creates story-driven games that often draw on the team’s filmmaking background and feature a diverse cast of characters. The studio has also long been deeply engaged with the genre of interactive film, with a particular focus on combining FMV (full-motion video) and gameplay elements in new and innovative ways.
In their projects, Kyra focuses on game-, level-, narrative-, and UI design, as well as writing and art (direction).
Veljko Sekelj, Startup Manager, Generator HdM Startup Center
Veljko has been building digital products for longer than even he probably cares to admit - first as a designer/developer, then as a CTO and founder, and now as Startup Manager at Stuttgart Media University. Along the way, he has worked on and founded companies in San Francisco, Paris, Croatia, and Stuttgart. The one constant - an almost unhealthy obsession for amazing UIs, strong product ideas and business models that sound slightly insane at first - until they suddenly work. His work has been recognized with awards including SXSW Interactive, a Webby nomination, and recognition as an Axel Springer Media Entrepreneur.
Today, through the Sandbox Accelerator in Stuttgart, he sees hundreds of ambitious software startups each year and supports them with honest feedback and a sharp instinct for what turns an idea into a real product. Sandbox also helps young teams access early-stage funding opportunities such as EXIST, giving them a chance to work full-time on their idea with substantial grant support (€120,000).
