School-Embedded Creator Economy

PRESS START CREATOR HUB Where Learning Becomes Opportunity

Press Start Creator Hub is a complete ecosystem that teaches students creative skills, entrepreneurship, publishing, and monetization—while building portfolios that travel with them beyond graduation.

Learn Create Publish Monetize Portfolio Opportunity
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What Is Press Start?

Press Start Creator Hub is a school-embedded creative production ecosystem designed to prepare students for modern careers in creative technology, media, and entrepreneurship.

Unlike traditional programs where student work ends with a grade, Press Start creates a closed-loop system where students move from learning to real-world outcomes — all within a safe, supervised, education-first environment.

We teach with forward-thinking AI integration — preparing students for the careers of tomorrow, not yesterday. Students learn to use AI as a creative collaborator and productivity tool, understanding both its power and its limitations. This isn't about replacing creativity; it's about amplifying it responsibly.

This is not a club. This is not a one-off program. This is infrastructure for future-ready education.

"Press Start doesn't just teach creativity — it teaches how creative work becomes a career."

Built on the foundation of the Press Start Game of Life book series — using gaming metaphors to unlock personal development and strategic thinking.

Why Schools Need This

Students are creative, capable, and motivated — but current systems often fall short.

01

Siloed Creative Learning

Creative skills are scattered across disconnected classes with no unified pathway or portfolio system.

02

Temporary Assignments

Student work disappears at the end of the semester instead of building toward something lasting.

03

No Real Pathways

Students lack clear routes from classroom learning to publishing, careers, or entrepreneurship.

04

Disconnected From Industry

Programs don't reflect how modern creative industries actually function and create value.

The Press Start Ecosystem

Press Start connects everything students create into one ecosystem. Nothing lives in isolation. Nothing gets "lost at the end of the semester."

01 Create

Tools & Labs

Students use Press Start creation tools and Creator Hubs to build real production assets, not practice files.

  • Design characters & environments
  • Create comics & visual stories
  • Build game & media assets
  • Develop animations & episodes
  • Use AI-assisted creation responsibly
  • Master industry-standard workflows
02 Publish

Visibility & Purpose

Student work doesn't end at "turn it in." It goes public, building accountability and pride of ownership.

  • Press Start Streaming Platform
  • Digital comics & episodic releases
  • Curated student showcases
  • School & community exhibitions
  • Festival submissions
  • Online portfolio hosting
Key difference: Publishing dramatically increases engagement, attendance, and motivation because students know their work will be seen.
03 Monetize

Education-First & Safe

Press Start introduces structured, supervised monetization pathways that teach real entrepreneurship.

  • Asset Marketplace (sell asset packs)
  • Content monetization (views & engagement)
  • Learn pricing & value creation
  • Understand digital ownership
  • Analytics & audience development
  • Intellectual property basics
Important: This is education-first monetization, not commercialization of students. All participation is optional, age-appropriate, and moderated.
04 Portfolio

Every Student Leaves With One

Students graduate with a living portfolio — not just a transcript. Ready for college, internships, and jobs.

  • Personal portfolio website
  • Published work samples
  • Project descriptions
  • Team roles & responsibilities
  • Skills demonstrated
  • Showcase documentation
05 Opportunity

Print, Showcases & Festivals

Students experience real-world creative industry events and professional presentation.

  • Print comics, posters, art books
  • Gallery exhibitions
  • Festival screenings
  • Supervised artwork sales
  • Industry networking
  • College & career connections

How Students Earn

Teaching entrepreneurship through real, supervised experience.

💰

Asset Marketplace

Students bundle their creations into asset packs and sell them within the Press Start ecosystem to other creators.

  • Package characters, props, backgrounds
  • Set pricing and create bundles
  • Learn digital commerce
  • Build entrepreneurial skills
📺

Content Monetization

Published content on the streaming platform and comic app can earn engagement-based revenue.

  • Views and engagement tracking
  • Analytics dashboard access
  • Audience growth strategies
  • Revenue sharing model

Education-First. Always Safe.

All monetization is optional, age-appropriate, moderated, and curriculum-aligned. Students learn how creative economies work — responsibly, ethically, and safely.

Benefits For Everyone

For Students

Real Skills & Ownership

  • Career-ready creative skills
  • AI literacy & responsible use
  • Entrepreneurial thinking
  • Financial literacy fundamentals
  • Team collaboration experience
  • Real audiences and feedback
  • Confidence and ownership
  • Portfolio for college & jobs

For Schools

Engagement & Pride

  • Increased student engagement
  • Stronger attendance
  • Public-facing student success
  • Family and community pride
  • Flagship program identity
  • Positive press & visibility
  • Cross-curricular integration

For Districts

Leadership & Scale

  • Workforce-aligned pathways
  • Equity-centered opportunity
  • Grant-ready innovation
  • Scalable, repeatable model
  • National visibility as leader
  • CTE & A-G alignment
  • Future-proof education

ELOP-Aligned
& Funding Ready

Press Start Creator Hub is a perfect fit for California's Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. Use your ELOP funding to bring future-ready creative education to your students.

What is ELOP?

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) provides significant per-student funding for before school, after school, and summer programs.

  • TK–6: Required programming
  • 7–12: Highly encouraged / flexible
  • School Year: 9+ hours/week
  • Summer: 30 days minimum

ELOP can pay for vendors, partners, instructors, curriculum, software, and equipment. That's where we come in.

Why Press Start?

We're not a club. We're not a one-off workshop. We're an ELOP Partner Vendor — a district-approved enrichment provider delivering turnkey creative technology programs.

Our ecosystem checks every ELOP requirement while delivering something no other program offers:

"Students don't just learn — they PUBLISH, BUILD PORTFOLIOS, and ENTER THE CREATOR ECONOMY."

📚

Academic Enrichment

Game design, storytelling, digital media literacy, and cross-curricular project-based learning.

💼

Career Exposure

Real creator economy experience, industry-standard tools, and professional workflows.

❤️

SEL Integration

Identity development, teamwork, purpose-building, and creative confidence.

🛠️

Workforce Skills

Design thinking, technology fluency, entrepreneurship, and project management.

🎤

Student Voice

Original IP creation, published comics, games, and student-owned creative work.

⚖️

Equity & Access

Professional-grade tools and opportunities students wouldn't otherwise access.

ELOP-Ready Program Blocks

Turnkey programs designed for 2-3 days/week, 2-3 hours/session, 10-12 week cycles

🎮

Press Start: Game Design & Interactive Media Lab

Students design, develop, and publish interactive games and experiences using industry-standard tools and workflows.

📖

PSCoMiXX: Digital Comics & Storytelling Studio

Visual storytelling, comic creation, and narrative design for all skill levels. Students publish real comics.

🎬

MADMixedMedia: Film, Animation & Creator Economy

Video production, animation, and content creation with real publishing outcomes and festival submissions.

🧠

Game of Life XP: Identity, Purpose & Career Pathways

SEL-focused personal development using gaming metaphors and creative expression for self-discovery.

Education-First. Always Compliant.

We maintain clear separation between funded learning time and optional creator opportunities.

During ELOP Hours

(Paid by School)

  • Learning & skill building
  • Creating original work
  • Portfolio development
  • Publishing to school channels
  • Preparing asset packs

After ELOP / Optional

(Student Choice)

  • Asset marketplace sales
  • Revenue sharing
  • Festival participation
  • Creator marketplace
  • Extended publishing

This makes it education-first, not labor exploitation. Districts feel safe. Parents feel good. Students still win.

What ELOP Can Fund

✓ Instructor Contracts
✓ Curriculum Licensing
✓ Software Licenses
✓ Wacom Tablets
✓ DTF Printers
✓ Cameras & Equipment
✓ Summer Intensives
✓ Festival Participation
✓ Creator Hub Setup

ELOP builds the pipeline → Press Start + MADMixedMedia power what comes next.

The MADMixedMedia Connection

MADMixedMedia serves as the professional studio arm — the industry-facing brand that connects student creators to real opportunities.

MMM Roles in ELOP

  • Guest artists & industry mentors
  • Studio showcases & exhibitions
  • Content curation & quality review
  • Festival screenings & submissions

MMM Benefits

  • Talent discovery pipeline
  • Content IP development
  • Brand recognition
  • Future collaborator network

What Schools Hear

"We run a turnkey ELOP program that combines academic enrichment, career exploration, and creative technology. Students learn game design, comics, film, and digital media while building real portfolios aligned to creative industry careers."

Then the secret sauce:

"Students can optionally continue their work beyond the ELOP program through our Press Start platforms, festivals, and creator marketplace."

Ready to use your ELOP funding for something students will actually remember?

Let's Talk ELOP

Partnerships &
Hub Activations

Press Start and MADMixedMedia partner with theaters, schools, cultural spaces, and creative venues to activate immersive creator hubs, showcases, screenings, and live experiences across games, comics, film, animation, and interactive media.

What Is a Hub Activation?

🎮

Game & Interactive Media Demos

Live playable showcases of student-created games and interactive experiences.

📖

Digital Comics & Storytelling Exhibitions

Gallery-style displays of original comics, graphic novels, and visual narratives.

🎬

Film Screenings & Episodic Showcases

Premiere screenings of student films, animations, and episodic content.

🎤

Creator Talks & Workshops

Industry mentors and student creators share insights and techniques.

🖼️

Gallery-Style Exhibitions

Curated displays of digital art, character designs, and concept work.

🤝

Community Networking

Connect creators, educators, industry professionals, and families.

Who We Partner With

Theaters & Performance Venues
Schools & Districts
Cultural Centers & Galleries
Community Organizations
Creative Studios & Sponsors
Libraries & Museums

Partnership Models

Joint Showcases

Co-produced exhibitions and events featuring student work alongside professional presentations.

Residencies

Extended creator-in-residence programs at partner venues with ongoing programming.

ELOP / After-School Extensions

Hub activations connected to expanded learning programs at partner schools.

Festival Co-Productions

Annual festivals and showcases produced in partnership with venues and sponsors.

Sponsored Creator Labs

Corporate and foundation-sponsored creative technology labs at partner sites.

Community Pop-Ups

Temporary activations at libraries, community centers, and public spaces.

Interested in activating a Press Start Hub at your venue?

Contact Partnerships

partnerships@pressstartgaming.com

Merchandise &
Creator Shops

Turn original artwork into real products. Students design, we produce, they earn. From digital to physical — comics, apparel, prints, and more.

What Creators Can Sell

👕

Apparel

T-shirts, hoodies, hats featuring original character art and designs via DTF printing.

📖

Print Comics & Zines

Physical copies of digital comics, manga, and graphic novels.

🖼️

Art Prints & Posters

High-quality prints of digital artwork, concept art, and illustrations.

📚

Art Books & Portfolios

Collected works, sketchbooks, and professional portfolio books.

🎴

Stickers & Cards

Character stickers, trading cards, and collectible prints.

🎮

Digital Assets

Game assets, templates, brushes, and digital downloads.

Where Creators Sell

01

Press Start Hub Shop

School-embedded creator shops within the Press Start Hub platform. Students set up storefronts, list products, and earn from sales — all supervised and education-first.

  • Integrated with student portfolios
  • School-approved products only
  • Transparent revenue tracking
  • Parent/guardian visibility
02

Portfolio Sites on Wix

Students build professional portfolio websites with integrated shop functionality on Wix. Their work, their brand, their earnings — hosted on industry-standard platforms.

  • Custom portfolio domains
  • Professional presentation
  • E-commerce integration
  • Industry-ready portfolios
03

Events & Festivals

Live merchandise sales at PressPlay Festivals, showcases, hub activations, and partner events. Real market experience.

  • Artist Alley-style booths
  • Live sales experience
  • Customer interaction skills
  • Event-exclusive items

How It Works

1
Create

Design original artwork using Press Start tools

2
Submit

Upload designs for review and approval

3
Produce

DTF printing, comic printing, product creation

4
List

Products go live in creator shops

5
Earn

Creators receive revenue from sales

Creator Ownership & Revenue

Students own their original designs. Revenue sharing is transparent and education-first. All merchandise sales outside of ELOP hours are optional creator economy participation. Parents/guardians have full visibility into earnings and transactions.

PressPlay
Festival

A unique two-part festival experience. Meet, collaborate, and learn — then create for 6 months — then showcase your work to the world.

PART 1

The Collab

Launch Event

Creators come together to meet, network, and form collaborative teams. Learn the Press Start ecosystem, tools, and workflows. Get inspired by industry mentors and fellow creators.

  • 🤝 Team Formation & Networking
  • 🎓 Tool & Platform Workshops
  • 🎤 Industry Mentor Sessions
  • 💡 Project Pitches & Planning
  • 🎮 Live Demos & Showcases
  • 📋 6-Month Project Kickoff

6 Months of Creation

Teams collaborate remotely and in-person to build their projects. Regular check-ins, mentorship, and support throughout the creation phase.

Month 1-2: Development Month 3-4: Production Month 5-6: Polish & Prep
PART 2

The Showcase

6 Months Later

The grand reveal. Creators return to showcase everything they've built. Live presentations, playable demos, screenings, merchandise sales, and celebration of creative achievement.

  • 🎬 Project Premieres & Screenings
  • 🕹️ Playable Game Demos
  • 📖 Comic & Art Exhibitions
  • 🛒 Creator Marketplace & Merch
  • 🏆 Awards & Recognition
  • 🎉 Community Celebration

What Gets Created

🎮 Video Games
📖 Comics & Manga
🎬 Short Films
🎨 Art Collections
🎵 Original Soundtracks
📱 Interactive Experiences
✨ Animations
🎭 Collaborative IPs

Who Participates

Students

K-12 and college creators from Press Start programs

Educators

Teachers and mentors guiding creative projects

Industry Pros

Guest artists, developers, and studio representatives

Families

Parents and community members celebrating creators

Ready to create something amazing?

Join the Next PressPlay

Industry
Partners

Press Start is built on relationships with industry-leading companies who share our vision of empowering young creators with professional-grade tools and real-world opportunities.

EPIC GAMES

Epic Games

Game Engine & Development

Unreal Engine powers our game development curriculum, giving students access to the same tools used by AAA studios worldwide.

REALLUSION

Reallusion

Character Animation & Motion

iClone, Character Creator, and Cartoon Animator enable students to create professional character animations and real-time motion content.

WACOM

Wacom

Digital Drawing & Input

Industry-standard drawing tablets and displays power our digital art, comics, and illustration programs with professional precision.

SIDEFX

SideFX Houdini

Procedural VFX & Simulation

Houdini brings Hollywood-level visual effects and procedural generation to our advanced animation and game development tracks.

MAXON

Maxon

3D Modeling & Motion Graphics

Cinema 4D and ZBrush provide professional 3D modeling, sculpting, and motion graphics capabilities for our creator programs.

TITMOUSE

Titmouse

Animation Studio

Emmy-winning animation studio providing mentorship, industry insights, and real-world pipeline experience for aspiring animators.

WIX

Wix

Portfolio & E-Commerce

Students build professional portfolio websites with integrated shops on Wix, establishing their online presence and creator storefronts.

MAD MIXED MEDIA

MADMixedMedia

Studio & Distribution

Our studio arm connects student creators to professional pipelines, festivals, screenings, and industry distribution channels.

What Partnership Means for Students

🛠️

Professional-Grade Tools

📚

Industry Curriculum

🎓

Mentorship Access

💼

Career Pathways

🏆

Industry Recognition

Become a Partner

Interested in joining our ecosystem? We're always looking for industry partners who want to invest in the next generation of creators.

Partner With Us

partnerships@pressstartgaming.com

Global Study Abroad &
Creator Exchange

Press Start and MADMixedMedia offer immersive summer study abroad and global exchange programs that combine education, technology, storytelling, and cultural exchange.

🇯🇵

Launch Country: Japan

The birthplace of gaming, manga, and anime culture

Focus Areas

🎮

Game Design & Interactive Media

📖

Comics, Manga & Visual Storytelling

🎨

Digital Art & Character Design

🎬

Animation & Media Production

🏯

Cultural Immersion & Creative Cities

Program Structure

01
Pre-Trip Virtual Learning

Online preparation covering cultural context, language basics, and project planning.

02
Supervised International Experience

Fully chaperoned travel with structured daily itineraries and 24/7 adult supervision.

03
Creative Workshops & Labs

Hands-on sessions at studios, schools, and cultural institutions in Japan.

04
Cultural Excursions

Visits to iconic creative destinations: Akihabara, Ghibli Museum, game studios, and more.

05
Post-Trip Showcase

Student work published and exhibited on Press Start platforms and at home venues.

What Makes It Different

Education-First

Not just tourism — structured learning outcomes aligned with academic standards.

Career-Connected

Real industry exposure and connections to creative professionals worldwide.

Creator-Owned IP

Students own everything they create during the program.

Portfolio Outcomes

Every participant returns with published work and documented experience.

Globally Scalable

Replicable model designed for expansion to multiple countries.

Safety & Consent

  • Strict supervision policies at all times
  • Appropriate adult-to-student ratios
  • Guardian consent required for all participants
  • Code of conduct strictly enforced
  • Emergency protocols and insurance coverage
  • 24/7 emergency contact availability

Creator Rights

  • All work created remains owned by students/creators
  • Showcasing occurs only with explicit permission
  • Non-exclusive license for Press Start promotion
  • Credit always given to creators
  • Work can be removed at creator's request
  • No transfer of IP ownership

Future Expansion

Following successful Japan programs, Press Start Global will expand to:

🇨🇦

Canada

🇬🇧

United Kingdom

🇫🇷

France

🇰🇷

South Korea

🌍

Additional Global Creative Hubs

Program Disclaimer

Study abroad and global exchange programs are offered through formal agreements and are subject to eligibility, safety requirements, and availability. Participation is voluntary and requires signed consent from guardians for all minor participants. No specific outcomes are guaranteed. Programs are subject to change based on global conditions, travel advisories, and institutional partnerships.

Interested in our global programs?

Contact Global Programs

global@pressstartgaming.com

Safety & Oversight

👁

Adult Supervision

All activities are supervised by trained educators and program staff.

📋

Clear Guidelines

Participation guidelines are explicit, documented, and parent-approved.

🛡

Content Moderation

All published content is reviewed before going public.

Opt-In Monetization

Earning is completely optional and never required for participation.

📊

Transparent Reporting

Regular reports to administration on all program activities.

🎓

Curriculum-Aligned

All activities map to educational standards and learning objectives.

"Students learn how creative economies work — responsibly, ethically, and safely."

Implementation Model

01

Foundation

School Pilot

Launch Creator Hub on campus, integrate into existing structures, and build the documented playbook.

  • Launch Creator Hub on campus
  • Integrate into classes, afterschool, summer
  • Produce publishable student work
  • Document workflows and outcomes
  • 8-12 week timeline
02

Capacity Building

Summer Institute

5-day intensive teacher training that builds internal capacity and sustainability.

  • 5-day Creator Hub Institute
  • 10-25 teacher cohort
  • Ready-to-run project units
  • Assessment & rubric systems
  • Confidence with all tools
03

Expansion

Site Residencies

Month-long rotations at additional campuses with co-teaching and coaching support.

  • 1 month per campus
  • Co-teaching model lessons
  • Classroom setup support
  • Project launch assistance
  • Teacher confidence building
04

Optional Scale

District Network

Multi-campus collaboration with shared showcases, festivals, and district-wide visibility.

  • Multi-school collaboration
  • District-wide showcases
  • Shared streaming & festivals
  • Cross-campus student teams
  • Long-term scalability

Services & Investment

Press Start offers flexible engagement models for schools and districts ready to transform creative education.

Entry

Pilot Program

$25-40K

per site

  • Program & pathway design
  • Standards alignment
  • Tool & workflow setup
  • 6-12 week project roadmap
  • Student showcase framework
  • Documentation for replication
Get Started

Scale

District Network

$200-500K+

district-wide

  • Multi-site rollout
  • District framework design
  • Multiple summer institutes
  • Site residencies
  • Shared showcases & festivals
  • Leadership coaching
  • Long-term advisory
Let's Talk

Pilot Programs Available at No Cost

Strategic pilot sites may qualify for free implementation. No licensing fees, no long-term obligation. The district retains full control over continuation or expansion.

Creation Tools & Curriculum

Press Start integrates across CTE, Arts, ELA, Media, and Technology. All tools are designed for classroom use with full curriculum alignment.

01

Comic Builder

Multi-panel layouts, speech bubbles, text formatting, and image import.

Storytelling • Sequencing • History • Documentation

02

Card Creator

Trading card templates with stats, character profiles, and custom designs.

Vocabulary • Character Analysis • Science • Math

03

Cover Creator

Book and magazine covers with professional layout tools.

Book Reports • Portfolios • Design • Presentations

04

CYOA Builder

Branching narratives with decision trees and consequence mapping.

Ethics • Historical Scenarios • Science • SEL

05

Visual Novel Mode

Character dialogue, scene building, and story progression.

Creative Writing • Languages • Social Scenarios

06

Drawing Tools

Brushes, shapes, colors, layers, and freehand illustration.

Art Class • Diagrams • Scientific Illustration

Ready to
Press Start?

Transform education from a temporary experience into a launchpad for opportunity. Position your school as a leader in future-ready creative education.

Trust, Safety
& Legal

Press Start is built on a foundation of safety, transparency, and protection — for students, educators, schools, and creators.

📜

Terms of Service

Platform usage rules, user eligibility, content standards, and legal framework.

Read Policy →
🔒

Privacy Policy

Data collection practices, student data protections, COPPA & FERPA compliance.

Read Policy →
🛡️

Youth Safety & Supervision

Two-adult rule, safe communication protocols, reporting procedures, AI safety.

Read Policy →

Code of Conduct

Respectful behavior standards, anti-harassment policies, enforcement process.

Read Policy →
©️

Intellectual Property & Creator Rights

Creators own their work. Non-exclusive licensing. Credit requirements.

Read Policy →
👥

Community Guidelines

Allowed and prohibited content, collaboration rules, reporting misuse.

Read Policy →

Accessibility Statement

Our commitment to inclusive design and accessible experiences for all users.

Read Policy →
🚨

Report a Concern

Contact options, anonymous reporting, and incident response procedures.

Report Now →

Program Policies & Training

Downloadable resources for administrators, instructors, and families. All downloads require acknowledgment.

📋
Employee Handbook

Staff policies, expectations, and procedures

🎓
Trainer / Instructor Manual

Teaching guidelines and program delivery

👨‍👩‍👧
Student & Parent Guide

Program overview for families

💰
Monetization Ethics Policy

Education-first monetization guidelines

📝
Incident Reporting Procedures

Safety response protocols

Compliance & Standards

COPPA

Children's Online Privacy Protection

FERPA

Student Data Privacy

ELOP

Expanded Learning Aligned

CA-DOE

California Standards

Request a Pilot

Fill out this form and we'll get back to you within 48 hours to discuss how Press Start Creator Hub can transform your school.

We'll respond within 48 hours. No obligation, just a conversation.