NYCEDC and NYU Tandon Announce Inaugural Cohort and New Leader for Game Design Future Lab

Dr. Mitu Khandaker Named Associate Director as Six Startups Begin One-Year Incubation Program to Build Sustainable Gaming Companies in NYC

NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYU Tandon School of Engineering today announced the inaugural cohort of the new Game Design Future Lab (GDFL) and the appointment of Dr. Mitu Khandaker as GDFL's leader.

The GDFL represents a key component of New York City's strategy to nurture its growing digital gaming ecosystem. It also advances NYU Tandon's mission of bridging entrepreneurs with its engineering research expertise to help innovative startups achieve market success. Selected companies receive personalized mentorship, industry-specific workshops, investor outreach, access to new technologies, and professional networking to establish and build successful businesses in the city.

The GDFL's first cohort includes six companies that represent diverse business models and stages of development, from solo founders building development platforms to established studios with 20+ employees working on commercial releases.

Inaugural Cohort Companies

• CYBRLICH Studios – Building CYBRLICH and the Death Cult of Labor, a narrative-driven, hand-animated first-person shooter offering a fresh take on genre classics.
• Made in Brooklyn Games – Creators of the hit VR game Don't Look Away, building rich experiences with emerging technology and social commentary.
• Munity Games – A cooperative studio creating Shootlanzer, an arcade shoot-em-up game.
• Pahdo Labs – Developers of the recently released Starlight: Re:Volver, a social world built around anime-inspired IP.
• Remixing Reality – Building a no-code platform for creating and deploying AR experiences across any AR device.
• Sapient Technology – Developing scalable GenAI tools integrated within Unreal Engine to streamline game development workflows.

“This administration has made incredible inroads in making New York City a global hub for digital gaming, and the launch of the Game Design Future Lab at NYU Tandon is a pivotal piece in advancing that vision,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “NYCEDC is proud to champion this growing industry and to celebrate the inaugural cohort under Dr. Mitu Khandaker's leadership as they transform their startups into lasting, impactful New York City businesses.”

“I'm excited to lead the Game Design Future Lab and bring together my startup experience, mentoring background, and focus on the future of game development,” said Khandaker, who is the GDFL associate director and oversees its day-to-day operations. “Working alongside the NYU Game Center incubator program, the GDFL will help build an ecosystem for games entrepreneurship at NYU and in New York City. Our inaugural cohort represents the range of companies at various stages of maturation working in games today, from platforms that support game development to studios creating new gameplay experiences and narrative-driven projects.”

Khandaker is an Associate Arts Professor at the NYU Game Center, NYU Tisch School of the Arts' game design program, where she has taught game design and development for the past decade. She was part of the founding team at Spirit AI, an AI tools company later acquired by Twitch, and served as CEO and co-founder of Glow Up Games, the first all women-of-color-founded company in mobile games to raise over $1 million in equity funding. She serves on the Game Developers Conference Advisory Board.

“NYU has long been an active participant in New York City's startup ecosystem, and the Game Design Future Lab is another example of NYU Tandon's commitment to making the city a leading hub for tech innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Linda Ng Boyle, NYU Tandon Vice Dean for Research. “We are excited to have Dr. Khandaker as the GDFL associate director. Under her leadership, we will be enhancing the Future Labs’ strength as an entrepreneurial hub. The six inaugural companies will be able to access her expertise as well as Tandon’s faculty, and industry networks as they build sustainable companies that will shape the future of this creative industry right here in New York.”

“The Game Design Future Lab is one of many incredible investments recently made towards making NYC a global digital games hub, and we congratulate our partners, NYCEDC and NYU, in this shared mission on today’s announcement of the inaugural cohort,” said Commissioner of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Pat Swinney Kaufman. “Additional congratulations to Dr. Mitu Khandaker on her appointment to lead the lab, and the six studios whose participation in the incubator program will open opportunities to NYC’s local digital games based workforce.”

NYCEDC and NYU Tandon announced plans to launch the GDFL in December 2023, and opened applications for the first cohort last year.

Companies in the one-year, in-person program receive mentorship and workshops tailored to their specific needs and goals; connections to the incubator's Advisory Board and Mentors, NYU faculty, and NYU Tandon engineering expertise; dedicated desk space for up to two founders at the NYU Future Labs in Brooklyn; office hours with field experts; access to startup benefits including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and HubSpot credits; and support in applying for New York State's Digital Game Development Program tax credit of 25-35 percent. The program is equity-free.

The GDFL is part of NYU Tandon Future Labs, a startup incubator network that began in 2009 with initial funding from NYCEDC. Today, in addition to the GDFL, the network includes the Data Future Lab, Urban Future Lab, and Veterans Future Lab, all co-located at 370 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Since their inception, the Future Labs have supported more than 428 startups that collectively raised over $4.6 billion and created 9,510 jobs, with a 93 percent success rate five years after founding.

The first GDFL cohort officially kicked off on October 15, with a celebration event planned for November 6.

Julie Samuels, President and CEO of Tech:NYC:
“The launch of the Game Design Future Lab cohort underscores what we already know—that New York City is obviously the place where innovation, creativity, and community collide. From digital gaming to generative AI, companies here are building the future of interactive entertainment and shaping a more inclusive tech ecosystem. We’re proud to see the city continue to invest in programs like this that showcase New York’s unmatched talent and energy.”

Regina Myer, President, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership:
“Downtown Brooklyn has evolved into one of New York City's most dynamic innovation districts, and the Game Design Future Lab at NYU Tandon is a perfect example of why. By bringing together cutting-edge academic resources, entrepreneurial talent, and industry expertise right here at 370 Jay Street, we're not just supporting six promising startups—we're strengthening Downtown Brooklyn's position as a premier destination for tech and creative industries. The GDFL adds to our thriving ecosystem of innovation, and we're excited to see NYU's ongoing commitment to its Downtown Brooklyn campus and these companies' contributions to our neighborhood's continued transformation.”

Randy Peers, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce:
“The Chamber is proud to support initiatives that bring talent, investment, and opportunity to Brooklyn. The Game Design Future Lab at NYU Tandon Future Labs reinforces our borough’s role as a launchpad for tech and creative innovation.”

Naomi Clark, Chair of the NYU Game Center:
“We’re tremendously excited to support Dr. Khandaker in her new role at the GDFL. In addition to overseeing the digital development curriculum for our game design students, she’s also helped expand and shape the NYU Game Center’s incubator over the last decade. We look forward to discovering how both incubator programs can enhance each other and mutually benefit even more up-and-coming game creators in the New York area.”

Sayar Lonial, Vice Dean, External Affairs & Public Relations, NYU Tandon:
“The Game Design Future Lab is the latest example of NYU Tandon's work to support New York City as a hub for entrepreneurship. By adding digital gaming to our network of Future Labs, we are ensuring that the city’s economic future is keeping pace with its diverse and talented population. Dr. Khandaker, a member of the NYU family through her appointment at Tisch will bring years of experience and knowledge to the inaugural cohort of six companies. Their success will be the launchpad for the growing digital game landscape and support NYCEDC’s economic development goals.”

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering
The NYU Tandon School of Engineering is home to unconventional engineers working across disciplines to solve humanity’s greatest challenges. Researchers and students work to advance and learn at the intersections of emerging areas including AI, cybersecurity, wireless communications, data science, emerging media, bioengineering, robotics, sustainability, complex systems engineering, materials science, and quantum technologies. NYU Tandon dates back to 1854, the founding year of both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, NYU Tandon is a vital part of New York University and its unparalleled global network. For more information, visit engineering.nyu.edu.