Bangalore-based Dhruva Interactive has set up an incubator called Gametantra targeting mobile game developers and it will offer space and mentorship in return for a 3-7% stake. It has space for 7-8 startups and has already received 12-13 applications from developers interested in the six-month long incubation program according to Rajesh Rao, Founder and CEO of Dhruva. The company has been planning to start a fund/incubator to encourage upcoming game developers for a while, but it was delayed as most of the resources went to the parent company itself, which was growing rapidly. "Recently someone told us that developers need mentoring more than money so we decided to spruce up our old office which is now being used only for administrative purposes for incubating these companies," Rao says. It needs to be noted that Gametantra was started as the casual games arm of Dhruva a few years back. The company has listed Samir Bangara (ex-COO of Indiagames), Gregg Barnett (Creative Director at Dhruva), Nick Martinelli (Studio Art Director at Dhruva), Vlad Micu (gaming consultant) and Raju Patil (Studio head at Dhruva) as mentors on its website. Rao says that they will also rope in indie developers who have made a name for themselves in the industry to mentor new companies. Some Dhruva staff will also help with administrative work that would otherwise distract them from developing games such as accounting and paper work. Dhruva is also trying to set up exchange programs with incubators in other parts of the world to improve…
