Protégé Game Studios
Protégé Game Studios is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based hybrid video game development studio and K-12 educational provider that combines commercial game publishing (R.O.B.O.T.S., Voxel) with proprietary STEAM curriculum (EdVentureman, CREATE/PLAY Studio) and esports programs sold to schools, homeschool families, and commercial clients, primarily through Michigan-based channel partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersZeeland, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Protégé Game Studios does
Protégé Game Studios, LLC is a privately held hybrid video game development studio founded in 2013 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company simultaneously operates as a commercial game studio — publishing titles such as R.O.B.O.T.S. (a multiplayer FPS/RTS hybrid built on Unreal Engine), a browser-based Voxel/Minecraft clone, and the LED Match puzzle game — and as a K-12 educational provider selling curriculum, studio environments, and short-term immersive experiences to schools, homeschool families, and individual learners. Its core educational IP is the EdVentureman browser-based game engine (used to teach JavaScript, 2D graphics, animation, and sound design) and the SiGHT "Play and Create" learning methodology, which scaffolds skill-building from paper templates through to functional game engines. The CREATE/PLAY Studio-Classroom bundles physical studio environments, curriculum, teacher training, and ongoing support as the flagship offering for schools, while the Protégé Esports League extends into tournament operations and YouTube live-streamed events.
The company's business model combines subscription-like school and homeschool course licensing, project-based commercial development services (video games, AR/VR/MR, digital assets, interactive learning experiences), and paid career-day/field-trip engagements. Go-to-market is heavily channel-partner driven in Michigan: iCademy Global distributes courses free of charge to public school students under the state's 21F digital learning program, while embedded partnerships with Innocademy, Grand Rapids Christian HS, Ionia CTE, and several other Michigan districts drive direct adoption. Ferris State University provides college-credit articulation (up to 6 credits) for the 3D Modeling and Animation curriculum, and Kendall College of Art and Design co-develops research projects such as the Microsoft HoloLens "Journey To Mars" VR experience and the "Wearables Sensiware" IoT initiative. The company is bootstrapped (no disclosed funding rounds), and revenue is not publicly reported.
Protégé Game Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Protégé Game Studios
- Legal name
- Protégé Game Studios, LLC
- Website
- https://protegestudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Protégé Game Studios is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based hybrid video game development studio and K-12 educational provider that combines commercial game publishing (R.O.B.O.T.S., Voxel) with proprietary STEAM curriculum (EdVentureman, CREATE/PLAY Studio) and esports programs sold to schools, homeschool families, and commercial clients, primarily through Michigan-based channel partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Protégé Game Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Educational Technology / Game Development Education
- NAICS
- Educational Services (611), Computer Training (61142), Educational Support Services (611710), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios (MPAFAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D) (EDAMACAE), Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB), Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC), Casual/Hypercasual Game Studios (MPAFAAAG)
Keywords
Where Protégé Game Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zeeland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Protégé Game Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Educational Curriculum and Courses: Protégé generates revenue through selling curriculum, courses, and studio support to schools and homeschool students. Courses cover video game development (Level 1, Level 2), 3D modeling and animation (Segment A, Segment B), and professional development programs. Some courses are offered for free to Michigan public school students through the state 21F program.
- CREATE/PLAY Studio Environment: Schools purchase or license the Protégé Studio-Classroom environment which includes curriculum, tools, training, and ongoing studio support. This is a comprehensive solution tailored to meet school needs.
- Game Development Experiences: One to two week immersive video game development experiences where students work with professional game developers. Schools pay for this engagement offering.
- Commercial Video Game Development: Protégé develops commercial video games and interactive experiences for external clients, including digital asset development, AR/VR/MR applications, and interactive learning experiences.
- Field Trips and Career Day Presentations: Schools pay for field trips to Protégé's video game studio or career day presentations (in-person or virtual) at their school. Field trips include hands-on activities at the studio.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Annual | Michigan 21F Program - Free for Public School Students |
| Subscription | Annual | Homeschool Courses |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Commercial Development Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Protégé Game Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Protégé Game Studios is a hybrid video game development studio that develops commercial video games and teaches students how to make them. The company sells video game development curriculum, a CREATE/PLAY Studio-Classroom environment, an Esports League program, and Game Development Experiences to K-12 schools, homeschool families, and commercial clients. It also offers custom development services for AR/VR/MR applications, interactive learning experiences, and digital asset creation.
Product overview
Protégé Game Studios is a 'Hybrid' video game development studio combining commercial video game development with educational products. The core offerings include: (1) Commercial Games: R.O.B.O.T.S., Voxel 'online', LED Match Game; (2) Educational Platform: EdVentureman browser-based game engine for teaching game development; (3) CREATE/PLAY Studio: comprehensive school solution with curriculum, tools, training and studio support; (4) Esports Program: tournaments and league for schools; (5) Short-term Programs: Game Development Experiences and Career Day/Field Trips; (6) Custom Development Services: AR/VR, digital assets, and interactive learning experiences for clients; (7) Research Projects: Journey To Mars (VR) and Wearables Sensiware. The company serves schools (K-12), homeschoolers, and commercial clients through partnerships with iCademy Global, Ferris State University, and Kendall College of Art and Design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EdVentureman: Learning platform for Middle and High School students to learn game development with JavaScript, 2D graphics, animation and sound development.
- R.O.B.O.T.S.
- Protégé Esports League (PEL)
- CREATE/PLAY Studio
Products and services
- R.O.B.O.T.S. (Spawner vs Shooter) A multiplayer 3D video game combining First-Person Shooter (FPS) and Real-Time Strategy (RTS) gameplay where players either spawn robots to seize control of a spaceship or defend against invading robots. Built on Unreal Engine. Sold as a commercial title.
- EdVentureman Learning Platform A browser-based game development platform that enables Middle and High School students to learn JavaScript coding, 2D graphics and animation, sound creation, and game design. Includes an optional digital comic book for graphic artists and story writers. Runs entirely in a browser with free tools available online.
- Voxel Online (Minecraft Clone) A browser-based voxel world building game that allows players to explore, build, or destroy in a Minecraft-style environment using keyboard (A-W-S-D) and mouse controls.
- LED Match Game A puzzle game for mobile phones and web where players match the correct sequence of numbers to overlay and match randomized LED segment patterns. Available for Web and Android with 117 puzzles across multiple difficulty levels.
- CREATE/PLAY Studio A comprehensive school solution that includes Studio Environment with branding, Curriculum and Content, Tools, Teacher Training, and Direct Studio Support. Combines a CREATE video game development studio with a PLAY esports studio for schools.
- Protégé Esports League (PEL) A course and league centered around esports with focus on team building, game strategy, gaming culture, online broadcasting/streaming technologies, and tournament competition. Includes Nintendo Switch tournaments for Super Smash Bros and MarioKart. Hosted with partner schools and live-streamed on YouTube.
- Game Development Experience Immersive one or two week video game development program where students work with professional developers using industry tools to create 3D games. Covers game design, 3D modeling and animation, programming, and game mechanics.
- New Student Orientation Project A browser-based interactive learning system developed for iCademy Global that uses game mechanics with students collecting coins and interacting with engaging animations to train students on the school's learning management system.
- Journey To Mars A virtual reality educational field trip developed with Kendall College of Art and Design using Microsoft HoloLens technology. Students experience a Mars mission including crash landing scenario, teamwork activities, and HoloLens exploration.
- Wearables Sensiware Project A research project with Kendall College investigating wearable technology and IoT concepts to capture data for optimizing student mental wellness. Students learned to code and solder wearable devices using Adafruit Gemma chips.
- Commercial Development Services Custom video game development services including 2D/3D game development, digital asset creation, interactive learning experiences, and AR/VR/MR development for external clients. Includes video production, graphic design, consulting, and social media services. Pricing is quote-based.
- Video Game Development Curriculum Courses and curriculum for Upper Elementary 4/5, Middle School, and High School students covering Video Game Development Level I, Level II, Professional Video Game Development, Professional Capstone Project, 3D Modeling/Animation Segment A and B, and Esports. Includes a Certification course option.
- Las Huellas Project Social media video production for Las Huellas Spanish Immersion School, including 30-second social media ads and longer 3-minute program videos capturing daily student interactions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Students can earn up to 6 college articulation credits at Ferris State University's Digital Animation and Game Design Program by completing Protégé's 3D Modeling and Animation Segment A and B courses
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Protégé Game Studios
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Protégé Game Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Protégé Game Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- iCademy GlobalcorePrimary educational partner offering Protégé Game Studio courses for all Elementary 4/5, Middle School, and High School students. iCademy Global serves as the channel for Michigan's 21F digital learning program, allowing public school students to take Protégé courses for free. Students can drop-in to the Studio at the Homestead Campus during posted times.
- InnocademycorePartner school with a unique hands-on Studio learning environment that embeds students within a working video game studio. Students participate in wearable technology research projects and other collaborative educational programs.
- Ferris State University DAGDflagshipUniversity partnership providing college credit articulation. Successfully completing both 3D Modeling and Animation Segments (A/B) allows students to earn up to 6 college articulation credits at Ferris State's nationally ranked Digital Animation and Game Design Program. Students also have access to college-level course content based on the university's curriculum.
- Kendall College of Art and DesigncoreResearch partnership for projects like 'Journey To Mars' investigating VR in education and the 'Wearables' project on wearable technology in the classroom. Students co-work with Kendall students and tour their facilities. Partnership combines educational expertise with creative technology development.
- Grand Rapids Christian HSminorPartner school providing Protégé game development curriculum to students.
- Ionia CTEminorCareer and Technical Education partner at Ionia County Career Center. Protégé Game Studio had 'tremendous impact' on students according to testimonial from Ionia CTE staff.
- NorthPointe ChristianminorPartner school offering Protégé game development curriculum to students.
- Lincoln Consolidated SchoolsminorPartner school district offering Protégé game development curriculum to students.
- Kentwood Public Schools CrossroadsminorAlternative education partner school offering Protégé game development curriculum to students.
- Kenowa Hills Public SchoolsminorPartner school district offering Protégé game development curriculum to students.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Protégé Game Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CodeCombat: Game-based computer science learning platform that teaches students to code through building playable games, with curriculum adopted by schools. Comparable to Protégé's JavaScript/HTML game-engine-based curriculum and school-direct distribution model.
- Schell Games: Pittsburgh-based studio that produces both entertainment and educational games, including VR/AR learning experiences. Comparable to Protégé in combining commercial game development with K-12/university-facing educational content and immersive tech.
- Filament Games: Wisconsin-based educational game development studio that designs and develops learning games for K-12 and higher education, with a similar hybrid model of producing commercial-grade learning games and working with schools. Operates in the same intersection of game studio + education provider as Protégé.
- Tynker: K-12 game-based coding education platform with curriculum, tools, and teacher training used widely across US schools. Directly comparable to Protégé's EdVentureman platform and CREATE/PLAY studio offering for teaching kids to code through game development.
- GameSalad: Browser-based game creation platform historically used in K-12 and higher-education classrooms to teach game design and programming. Closely analogous to Protégé's EdVentureman browser-based engine and school-channel curriculum distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Code.org: Large nonprofit providing K-12 computer science curriculum including game-design modules with massive school-district adoption. A primary competitor for mind-share and STEAM/CS budget allocation in the same schools Protégé targets.
- BrainPOP: Established K-12 educational content platform with game-based learning activities covering STEM and digital citizenship. Competes for the same per-student or per-seat school-district budgets as Protégé's curriculum and CREATE/PLAY bundle.
- Roblox Education: Major gaming platform with a dedicated education division offering curriculum, teacher training, and student game development tools. Targets the same K-12 game-development curriculum market as Protégé but at vastly greater scale and with deeper toolchain integration.
- Unity Technologies Education: Major game engine provider with educational programs, curriculum, and licensure for K-12 and higher-ed. Uses Unreal Engine competitor, comparable in that Protégé's EdVentureman platform must coexist with Unity's classroom-grade offerings.
Emerging players
- STEM Fuse: K-12 STEM/STEAM curriculum publisher including game design and digital media courses for school districts. Smaller in scale than Code.org or Tynker, but competes for similar district curriculum budgets as Protégé.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Protégé Game Studios social profiles
Digital presenceProtégé Game Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Protégé Game Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Protégé Game Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Protégé Game Studios M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Protégé Game Studios
What does Protégé Game Studios do?
Protégé Game Studios is a hybrid video game development studio that develops commercial video games and teaches students how to make them. The company sells video game development curriculum, a CREATE/PLAY Studio-Classroom environment, an Esports League program, and Game Development Experiences to K-12 schools, homeschool families, and commercial clients. It also offers custom development services for AR/VR/MR applications, interactive learning experiences, and digital asset creation.
Is Protégé Game Studios a public or private company?
Protégé Game Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Protégé Game Studios founded?
Protégé Game Studios was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Protégé Game Studios based?
Protégé Game Studios is headquartered in Zeeland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Protégé Game Studios make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Educational Curriculum and Courses are the primary driver. The others are CREATE/PLAY Studio Environment, game Development Experiences, commercial Video Game Development and field Trips and Career Day Presentations.
Who are Protégé Game Studios's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CodeCombat, Schell Games, Filament Games, Tynker and GameSalad. Broad incumbents are Code.org, BrainPOP, Roblox Education and Unity Technologies Education. STEM Fuse is listed as an emerging player.
Does Protégé Game Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Protégé Game Studios.
What industry is Protégé Game Studios in?
Protégé Game Studios's product category is Educational Technology / Game Development Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAI, Educational Games & Kids/Families Game Studios, with a secondary code of EDAMACAE, Game Development (Unity, Unreal, 2D/3D). Its NAICS code is 611 and its SIC code is 7372.