Nova Games Foundation offers up to $600,000 per project with zero equity
Summary
Nova now offers up to $500,000 in follow-on capital on top of $100,000 base grants, both equity-free.
The structure removes the return mechanism anchoring VC seed deals.
Recipients keep full control over publisher and platform choices.
The foundation markets recipients' games without taking a financial cut.
"Nova is philanthropy: we aren't taking equity or looking to recoup the grants"
01
Follow-on tier turns the grant program into a VC seed alternative
Base grants total $100,000 for each of 20 designers a year.
Up to $500,000 more is available for the most promising projects.
Per-project capital can reach $600,000 with no equity or recoupment.
Standard VC seed deals trade capital for ownership or future revenue.
02
Foundation cedes commercial control that VCs and publishers usually claim
Recipients choose their own publishers and platforms, with no steering from Nova.
The foundation connects developers with publishers but takes no cut from any deal.
Josef Fares of Hazelight Studios joined as a named supporter.
"I'm proud to support Nova because it gives the next generation of creators the freedom to explore their creativity"
03
Application window and donor pipeline set the pace for scale
Applications for the 2026-2027 class open in December across 13 university programs.
The programs span eight countries, including NYU, USC, Abertay, Cnam-Enjmin, TH Köln and RMIT.
Keighley says dozens of leading game directors have expressed interest in supporting the foundation.
Cerny wants Nova to keep operating over the next 10 or 20 years.
What this means
For Investors & VC: A $600,000 non-dilutive path erodes the leverage of equity-based seed terms.
For Publishers & Developers: Emerging talent may surface through Nova before signing recoupment-based studio deals.
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