Agenda

This session offers a practical guide to founding and running a worker cooperative game studio, with insights for both U.S. and international developers. Presenters will walk attendees through key operational, procedural, and legal considerations including founding processes, ownership structures, compensation models, and funding strategies. The session explores the strong benefits of choosing a cooperative model and when that model makes sense. We will also explore strategic differences between funded and bootstrapped teams, and how to structure projects for long-term sustainability. Real-world examples and testimonials from real co-op studios provide concrete lessons on co-op governance, hiring and separation practices, and common pitfalls.

Takeaway

Attendees will take away a practical and actionable set of steps for how to found, build and ship sustainably with a cooperative studio. Attendees will also receive examples of important documentation like governing bylaws, as well as experiences shared from existing game development worker co-operatives ranging widely in scale.

Intended Audience

This session is for game developers interested in forming their own studios, particularly those focused on equity, worker agency, and collaborative structures. While no prior knowledge is required, attendees who have spent time thinking about studio organization and governance will gain the most from the discussion.