Burger Bois - Mischief Makers Studio
CODE FUNDING IS NOW AVAILABLE
CODE Funding aims to support the Aotearoa - New Zealand game development ecosystem by assisting diverse creators and studios to develop digital game prototypes, found new studios or expand existing companies’ ambitions.
CODE is funded by the Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit for the Dunedin regional programme, with Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funding the CODE's nationwide expansion, with an explicit remit to build the capacity of start-up businesses to drive innovation, revenue and jobs in the game development sector.
CODE also offers Travel Grants, a form of grant with two rounds per annum. Click here to find out more.
KickStart and StartUp funding
The 2026 CODE national Funding Programme (Round 12) Expressions of Interest for KickStart and StartUp is now open.
Round 12 is open to applicants nationally, with expressions of interest open from Wednesday 25th February through 5pm Monday 16th March only. Eligible applicants invited to proceed will have a further nine weeks to submit a Full Application.
HOW TO APPLY
Click on the Expression of Interest buttons to lodge an EOI. KickStart and StartUp are available in a round by round format, whereas Service Start is on-demand and available to apply for at any time (subject to CODE discretion).
An Expression of Interest form must be completed before proceeding to a full application.
See the CODE Funding Application Writing Guide for assessment requirements.
AVAILABLE FUNDS
KICKSTART
Range: $10,000 - $60,000
Are you an individual and/or small team wanting to create innovative, working game prototypes that have “found the fun” – aiming to build a functioning core gameplay loop ready to attract further funding or external investment?
CODE's Round 12 Funding programme Expressions of Interest are now open from Wednesday 25th February through 5pm Monday 16th March only. For all funding applications, please refer to the KickStart Funding Summary of Information and Terms and Conditions.
An Expression of Interest form must be completed before proceeding to a full application.
STARTUP
Range: $60,000 - $250,000
Perhaps you have extensive experience working for a game dev company and are now looking to travel under your own steam. Perhaps you have an indigenous story to tell interactively. Perhaps you have worked with one or two other experienced devs for a while on outside-of-work projects or game jams, and you want to coalesce as a partnership to realise a shared vision with great commercial prospects. Perhaps you have launched, failed and learned from a previous self-funded venture.
We want to help talented people with vision, from a diverse range of backgrounds, start great games companies in Aotearoa - New Zealand.
CODE's Round 12 Funding programme Expressions of Interest are now open from Wednesday 25th February through 5pm Monday 16th March only. For all funding applications, please refer to the StartUp Funding Summary of Information and Terms and Conditions.
An Expression of Interest form must be completed before proceeding to a full application.
SCALEUP
Range: $75,000 - $250,000
For businesses that have already shipped titles and are looking to grow and expand their teams and ambition, CODE offers the ScaleUp grant. CODE is currently focused on early-stage companies seeking to take the next step in the growth of their businesses, markets and product offerings. The main aim of ScaleUp is to help increase permanent team-size as part of their ongoing growth and economic development. To apply, a business needs to have already shipped at least one product and be preparing to add staff for a new endeavour.
If you think this is you, check out the ScaleUp Guidelines and Terms and Conditions.
Please note that nation-wide Expressions of Interest in this category are suspended until further notice.
SERVICE START*
Range: $10,000 - $50,000
*Please note, applications in this category are for Dunedin based providers only or providers wishing to relocate to Dunedin. A separate national Service Start programme (which excludes Dunedin providers) may be opened in future, but for the time being the national focus necessarily remains on early stage studios entering the market with games.
We are aiming to support new or young businesses in the video game industry that are providing tools or technical services for game developers – aside from CODE’s usual game content funding programmes. These businesses can provide employment, build community capability, and create new pathways for recent graduates into the globally-expanding video game industry.
If you think this is you, check out the Service Start Guidelines and