KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI)

How to apply

• Use the Apply Now button on the KIGI page. It leads to an online form.
• Applications are in English. The incubator does not hold calls or video meetings with applicants before review.
• Questions go to infoindiaincubator@krafton.com.

What to prepare

• A game concept document with a prototype development plan.
• A playable early prototype, vertical slice or demo build. Later-stage studios with a beta, soft launch or live demo also fit the expanded mandate.
• A pitch deck covering team, game concept, timeline, budget, support needed and business goals.

How selection works

• A review committee reads every application.
• The incubator aims to reply within 30 days, and may take longer when many teams apply. It does not give feedback to teams that are not selected.
• It scores team expertise, viability, clarity of concept and goals, passion, market potential and innovation.

Before you apply

• Funding is recoupable. The incubator says it does not include publishing.
• Check the registration rule. The programme page says company registration is mandatory, and an older page lets student teams apply without it.
• Real money games are excluded.

KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator, called KIGI, is the incubation programme of KRAFTON India for Indian game developers. It is run by KRAFTON India, whose headquarters are in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The programme is virtual, so a team can take part from anywhere in India.

How the programme works

KIGI is a mentorship and funding programme that runs for 6 months to 1 year. KRAFTON describes its aim as helping Indian game entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality, with guidance, mentoring and funding. Funding is released in stages against agreed milestones, not in one payment. The incubator says the financial support is recoupable and does not include publishing, though it may talk about publishing later.

Selected teams also get one-to-one mentoring from industry veterans on game development, business, pitching, marketing and game design. They get workshops and webinars, Google Cloud and AWS credits, premium access to tools such as AppMagic and Gamerefinery, development tools such as Accelbyte, and research and competition analysis. Teams keep their creative independence and own their intellectual property rights.

KIGI is expanding to later-stage studios. It now covers mobile titles in beta or soft launch, and PC games with live demos and early market traction. For these teams the focus is go-to-market strategy, marketing, user acquisition and product growth.

Who can apply

Any India-based individual or team can apply. The incubator asks for a detailed game concept document with a prototype development plan, an early stage prototype or a vertical slice or demo build, and a pitch deck covering the team, game concept, timeline, budget, support needed and business goals. Founders, team members and representatives must be at least 18 years old, and benefits go to the business entity or game development team, not to an individual.

Company registration is listed as mandatory on the programme page. An older page on the site says student teams from India can apply without a registered legal entity, so check this with the team before you drop an application. Games with real money gaming are not supported. Every genre, platform and business model is otherwise welcome, and mobile is not required.

Teams and cohorts

The programme page lists its teams by year for 2024, 2025 and 2026, with studios and the games they are building. Examples include Kleanup Games with Chromadi, Smashhead Studios with Cricket Rivals and Arjuna Studios with Gangster Carnival.

KIGI Academy

KRAFTON India also runs KIGI Academy, a training programme for students rather than studios. It starts with IIT Madras: 16 weeks of Unity game development on campus, then an 8-week residency at KRAFTON India's Bengaluru headquarters for selected students. It is currently open only to IIT Madras students, so it is not an option for most founders.

Contact and careers

Questions about the incubator go to infoindiaincubator@krafton.com. KRAFTON India lists open roles on its jobs page, and its news page covers KIGI events and appearances.