Full Bloom Mentorship Program

2026 Session

Full Bloom is a traditional 1:1 mentorship program, focused on creating safe spaces for marginalized individuals where they can seek advice and expertise from experienced game dev professionals.

2026 mentor and mentee applications are now OPEN!

MENTOR Application
MENTEE Application

Who is this program for?

This program is for professionals already working in the games industry or professionals from another industry who are transitioning in.

While we love students, this program is designed to support those with work experience. For a list of other mentorship programs, please see our Resources page.

Mentees must identify as BIPOC, while mentors of all backgrounds will be accepted.

Our cohorts are small - this allows us to offer the best experience to all participants and to prioritize community building.

What is the structure of the program?

  • The basic structure of Full Bloom consists of the mentee organizing 1:1 meetings with their mentor to establish goals, review progress towards those goals, and get feedback or insights from their mentor. It is up to the mentee to come up with a goal and put together a short presentation with the help of your mentor. The program culminates in a short presentation of your progress at a showcase event held on our Discord. Examples of showcase goals include: portfolio update, improving a specific skill such as dialogue writing, forming an ERG, etc.

  • Pairs are encouraged to meet weekly for 30-45 minutes over the course of the 10 week program. This is to ensure that there is time to build a relationship without worrying about over commitment.

  • Guidance materials and onboarding sessions will be offered to all participants

  • Participants are expected to fill out two surveys, one at the mid-point of the program and one at the - these are the best way for us to help facilitate and stay in touch with you to ensure the most beneficial and rewarding experience.

  • Discord community for mentors and mentees to connect, build friendships, and learn from one another.

Questions?

Have questions about our mentorship program? Please email us at mentorship@sunbloomarts.org!

Timeline

June - July 2026

  • Applications for Mentors & Mentees Open

August 2026

  • Mentor & Mentee applications are reviewed and accepted applicants are notified

September 2026

  • Mentor & Mentee Onboarding

  • Program Kickoff!

October 2026

  • Midpoint check-in

November 2026

  • End of program showcase!

Sign up for our mailing list below to stay updated on future developments!

2024-2025 Cohorts

Previous Mentors:

  • Beca Vessal

  • Ben Prunty

  • Brenden Gibbons

  • Britney Winthrope

  • Chitvan Gupta

  • Daniel Alejandro Aguilar Gonzalez

  • Emperatriz Ung

  • Iman Fayek

  • Joseph Domenici

  • Josh Delson

  • Joshua Rubin

  • Kyra McJesse

  • Lissi Michler

  • Mallory Gibson

  • Mariah Clawson-Simons

  • Michael John

  • Mimi Nguyen

  • Terence Tolman

Previous Mentees:

  • Adaya Head

  • Adnan el-Bedawi

  • Aianne Urgel

  • Atenea Michelle Albertos Martinez

  • Ayo Afolabi

  • Binx Taylor

  • Brianna Rose Salazar

  • Bridget Hawkins

  • Charles Greenberg

  • Courtney Manbeck

  • Jñani Crawford

  • Kyra Wills-Umdenstock

  • Mattia Sicuro

  • Melva Harris

  • Mia Booker

  • Mia King

  • Ryan Davis

  • Stephanie Glover

  • Teresa Jusino

  • Tomas Palazzi

  • Zipporah Smith

  • “Getting to meet and get to know my mentor over the course of the Sunbloom program was a wonderful experience. Post program I now have someone who I can ask questions to when I am feeling stuck or need some feedback and will hold me accountable for goals I set. Having this connection is priceless and I am eager to continue working on my skills so I can also give back to the community in the future.”

    Mentee, 2025

  • “My experience with Sunbloom’s mentorship program meant a lot to me. I supported a mentee hoping to break into the game industry who has since received two full-time job offers, and watching their growth has been incredibly rewarding. Sunbloom creates real opportunities and a community that truly supports its people.”

    Mentor, 2025

  • “I have a great experience learning from my mentor, learning the point of view, anecdotes and workflow of a veteran on my area was great and I think will be impactful in the way I do my work on the industry from now on, it was an amazing experience overall!”

    Mentee, 2025

  • “Through the Sunbloom mentee program, not only did my connections in the games industry blossom, but I was also fortunate enough to find a true friend in my mentor. The Sunbloom program creates such a warm and welcoming space—it's a wonderful way to meet genuinely kind people in the industry.”

    Mentee, 2024

  • “Through Sunbloom's mentorship program, I was able to learn from and connect with talented individuals across the games industry. My mentor was answered any questions I had and helped me improve my craft. By the end of the mentorship, I felt encouraged, inspired, and hopeful that I could succeed as an indie game developer.”

    Mentee, 2024

  • “The Sunbloom team is out solving a real challenge which is to help the marginalized folks be successful in the Games Industry, not just with getting a job, but also with having a lasting career. Having participated in the program in 2024 as a mentor, what I loved about the team is that they are results driven, they listen to feedback and are dedicated towards their mission to make a positive impact for individuals.”

    Mentor, 2024

  • “My Sunbloom mentor, helped me become more comfortable expanding my skillset while still keeping my goals focused and manageable. We always share progress on new projects and still check in with each other regularly with career and life updates. It's reassuring to have a community like Sunbloom where other mentors and mentees can share experiences, especially when the industry gets more difficult to navigate.”

    Mentee, 2024

  • “My experience as a mentee in Sunbloom was fantastic. They paired me with a mentor who strove to understand my story as a career switcher and introduced me to resources that have helped me on my journey into games. Sunbloom itself has also been a wonderful resource to me, especially in that it provides a space for those out of school to connect over games-related topics.”

    Mentee, 2024

  • “Not only did Sunbloom's "Full Bloom" program connect me to an awesome industry mentor, but I'm grateful for the way that Sunbloom continues to invest in the development and growth of its mentees after the program is over! Thanks to Sunbloom, I got to attend Game Developers of Color Expo, and have a chance at attending GDC Festival of Gaming when I otherwise wouldn't have had the chance. The way that Sunbloom provides consistent support to its program participants is really amazing.”

    Mentee 2025"