AppCampus is a unique global initiative originating from Finland. Fast-moving 18M euro -program sets out to enable mobile app success stories.
AppCampus, a unique pre-seed funding program that was announced on March 26th and created by Microsoft, Nokia and Aalto University, today opens its gates for grant applications. The program is open for both teams and individuals from any field of expertise. AppCampus is a global program from the very start: it will fund projects based on merit, irrespective of their geographical location. The program is looking to fund unique, innovative and high impact mobile applications that utilize Windows Phone and Nokia platforms. To enable these fresh ideas to materialize, Microsoft and Nokia will invest up to €18 million over the next three years into the AppCampus program.
It is fascinating to see that less than 2 months since its initial announcement, AppCampus has already attracted the interest of over 4000 individuals and a great number of service providers and system integrators from 31 countries, says Pekka Sivonen, Head of AppCampus at Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship.
By avoiding unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, the program is moving forward fast. To that end, the program’s processes are designed to be fast-paced and responsive, promising to deliver decisions on applications within 4 weeks of submission.
Successful applicants will be granted €20 000 – €70 000 depending on the size and scope of project. Once a project is admitted to the program and successfully completes application design review, applicants will receive 30% of the funds. The rest will be granted when the final product is certified and launched on Windows Mobile Marketplace and/or Nokia Store.
On top of funding, AppCampus will provide successful applicants with coaching and training as needed, guide their applications through quality assurance processes as well as help them find additional team members, pilot customers or business partners.
Unlike any existing program, AppCampus will not take equity, retain intellectual property rights or require revenue share from the funded projects. “We are simply looking to support brilliant ideas that would boost this new mobile eco-system and create the next generation of successful companies, comments Sivonen.
The main purpose of the program is to enable enthusiastic talented individuals to realize their potential and put their fresh ideas into practice in an accelerated manner. The overall goals are not just to boost the mobile ecosystem, but to eventually create new jobs, companies and success stories.
To apply for AppCampus go to www.appcampus.fi
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