Dart17 is an ideas testing lab developed as a collaboration between swissnex San Francisco, Swisscom, the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, Engagement Migros and the Gebert Ruef Stiftung. The labaratory, which is based at swissnex Francisco, allows startups that create new creative content for interactive experiences using tools such as AR, VR, 3D, data, robotics, sensors, gaming, and smart objects to test and scale their projects. Each selected startup using the lab receives a stipend of worth 5,000 USD, access to coaching, mentors, and attends workshops and matchmaking events organised by Dart17 and its partners.
Last year Dart17 selected two Swiss startups to join its laboratory:
Apelab, a VR production studio specializing in interactive storytelling. Their tool, Spatial Stories, empowers anyone to create their own VR experiences. DART 17 is supporting Apelab in finding the right funding model and partnerships for their content as well as their new VR Tool.
Struckd, a Zurich based startup working on becoming the next YouTube for user generated games. The company designed an App which acts as a game creation tool that allows to create games in a simple and intuitive way which combines the fun of playing a game itself. DART 17 is supporting Struckd by connecting them to industry experts for the continuous development of their platform and testing their market fit with large brands.
Swiss startups present Swiss innovation in Texas
This year, for the very first time, Switzerland is coordinating a joint effort to bring a selection some of the most innovative Swiss projects and startups to Texas to attend the “South by Southwest Conference and Festival (SXSW)” in Austin, Texas from 10th – 19th March 2017. The conference brings together more than 70,000 key players in tech, research, interactive, politics, film, and music industries. It features a variety of tracks that allow attendees to explore future developments in the fields of entertainment, culture, and technology.
Dart17 –also one of the organisers of the SXSW conference activities – will bring fourSwiss startups to represent Switzerland in the Exhibitions at the SXSW conference. The startups include; Struckd and Apelab, as well as Somniacs, the developer of Birdly, a game in which users try to capture the mediated flying experience by embodying a bird; and Transmii, which focuses on digital publications and augmented reality, putting user experience and ergonomics first. All four startups will attend Match-Making, an event organised in collaboration with Engagement Migros, to connect Swiss Creatives with international investors and distributors to help them to break through internationally, thanks to valuable contacts and coaching sessions.
In addition, Dart17 has gathered leaders from ETH Zurich, EPFL, the University of Zurich, swissnex San Francisco, among others to hold panel discussions at the SXSW conference to share their perspectives and experiences. The panel discussion tackles why creatives need a special kind of interdisciplinary incubator and work space tailored to creative projects, and offers advice for creating a more inspiring and collaborative environment.
Further details on the conference and Dart17’s participation at the SXSW are available on the website.
Pic: Skeeze/Pixabay