The Dutch Game Mentors program by the Dutch Games Association kicked off on October 3rd. How is the program progressing so far? How many mentees have applied, and are they finding suitable mentors? Here’s an update from Jeroen Derwort, Chairman of the DGA.
In the first few weeks after the program’s announcement, about twenty people signed up for a mentor. That number has now grown to 31. The number of mentors who have joined has also increased, reaching 36. This means a significant portion of the mentors have already been matched with a mentee. A promising start to the program.
Matching mentors with mentees isn’t always straightforward, as mentors have their own specializations that need to align with the mentee’s profile. This is something we address through the Dutch Game Mentors matching process. So far, we’ve found that we can provide a suitable mentor for the vast majority of applicants.
Looking at the registrations, there is a lot of diversity, but some trends are noticeable. For instance, 82% of the applications are involved in indie game development or smaller applied games. Most applicants identify as beginners, but there are also a few more experienced game professionals and studio owners who are using this opportunity to spar with someone who can help them take the next step.
55% of the applicants have their own studio, while 45% are professionals or freelancers. Among the professionals, we see a wide range of skill sets.
The match with mentors could improve in certain areas. For instance, we currently don’t have any programmers who have joined the network as professionals. We also need more mentors specialising in Art and UI/UX.
The mentees come from all over the Netherlands, with Amsterdam (5) and Utrecht (4) being hotspots. The international nature of our industry is reflected in the fact that 42% of mentees have requested English-speaking coaching.
When it comes to diversity, there’s still room for improvement: about 25% of mentor applications come from women, but so far, only 4 female mentors (11%) have joined.
The positive impact of Dutch Game Mentors is noticeable not only in the Netherlands but also internationally. A similar initiative, Belgian Game Mentors, has been launched in Belgium, and there have been discussions with associations in Northern Ireland and North Macedonia, who are interested in starting a similar program.
The initial feedback from mentors and mentees participating in the program is positive. Mentors who have had their first sessions report how rewarding it is to coach individuals eager to advance in the game industry and whose profiles match their expertise.
Mentees are also enthusiastic. Even a single conversation with an experienced mentor can significantly impact their careers. That’s the feedback I’m receiving so far. As more sessions take place, we’ll be able to gather more insights and further refine the process and matching.
Finally, I’d like to make an appeal. The mentor network is a free initiative that can only succeed and continue to thrive with the help of volunteers and members of the Dutch Games Association. Currently, only 3% of the mentees who signed up for the program are members, which I find disappointing. Hopefully some people will appreciate the value it brings them in a later stage.
Additionally, having excellent mentors is crucial. While we are very happy and grateful for the 36 mentors who have already signed up, we’d like to expand further. It would be great if our group of mentors would become a bit more (gender) diverse. We could also use more mentors with programming or art and UI/UX backgrounds. If this appeals to you and you’d like to contribute to the industry, let us know!