Catalyst Funding: Social Thinky Games

Mission Alignment: Carina Initiatives funds projects that develop mathematical thinking and connect kids to math-forward initiatives. This grant supports the development of social thinky games that inspire mathematical and logical reasoning.

Program Focus

Carina is seeking to support the development of social thinky games - games where players build mastery of deep systems and mechanics through discovery, experiencing "aha moments" and engaging in creative problem-solving, logical reasoning, strategic decision-making, and thoughtful planning.

Thinky Game Definition: Games where players, through discovery, build mastery of deep systems and mechanics. Examples include Baba Is You, Patrick's Parabox, and Factorio.

Social Thinky Game Definition: Games where shared problem-solving is central to the design. Two broad categories:

• Co-op or competitive thinky games (e.g., ibb & obb, Chess, Prismata, Portal 2)
• Create & share experiences (e.g., Minecraft, Mario Maker)

Eligibility

• Target Audience: Kids ages 8-13 (primary focus, though games should be enjoyable by anyone)
• Rating: Only E-rated games considered
• Accessibility: Must be web accessible
• Project Stage: Pre-production projects only (concept, prototyping, early development)
• Developer Profile: Experienced leaders who can bring projects to life
• Platform Preference: Platform projects with low costs of content creation preferred

Award Details

• Amount: Up to $250,000
• Funding Model: Flexible - can be structured as revenue share, equity, or (in rare cases) grants
• Expectation: Funding is expected to be paired with other sources (publishers, investors, grants, etc.) to carry the project forward
• Accessibility Requirement: Some portion of content must be made freely accessible to low-income kids and educators

Evaluation Criteria

Submissions evaluated based on:

• Track record
• Mission alignment
• Go-to-market plans

Geographic Scope

Not explicitly specified; based on funder location, appears to be US-focused

Recent Funded Projects

• Project Cubit
• Atlas Arena
• SuperWeird
• DUO

Contact Information

General Partnership Email: partnership@carina.fund

Application Process

1. Apply using the application link provided on the funding page
2. Submission Timeline: Submissions accepted on a rolling basis
3. Evaluation: Carina reviews submissions based on track record, mission-alignment, and go-to-market plans

Required Materials

Not explicitly detailed in provided content, but likely includes:

Project description and concept

Developer/team background and track record

Prototype or early development materials

Go-to-market plan

Plans for accessibility and free content for low-income users

Next Steps

Contact: Reach out to games@carina.fund to start a conversation before or during the application process