Over $1 million going to 36 startups through AppCampus development programme

By Rich Edmonds
last updated

While we continue to impatiently approach Nokia's event this coming week where we'll hopefully see what the Finnish manufacturer has to offer in terms of Windows Phone Apollo hardware, news has unearthed today surrounding the AppCampus (www.apcampus.fi), which was set up earlier in the year.

The joint venture between Microsoft, Aalto University (Finland) and Nokia was established at a cost of $23 million to promote quality app development on Windows Phone. AppCampus has revealed that it has distributed the first $1 million of its budget on 36 developers out of a total of 900 submissions.

At an average of $30,000 per-app, the joint venture will be looking at individual investments between $25,000 and $80,000 over the course of the programme. TechCrunch were informed by Pekka Sivonen, head of AppCampus, that apps developed through the programme are expected to start being released in October. Said apps will run exclusively on Windows Phone, as well as "other Nokia platforms", for the first six months.

Sivonen continues to explain the joint venture is currently searching for its next batch of startups to get ready in the new year. 

"We’re making close to 700 investments in the next three years so I would heavily encourage people to submit their best ideas. This is the time to jump in."

Due to competitive reasons, AppCampus hasn't disclosed a list of the startups that have already received investment from the programme, but Sivonen states that backed projects range from games to productivity apps, and cover a wide range of geographies.

Two apps that were unveiled are enterprise / productivity focused:

  • Sihti - a mobile job-hunting app, which enables users to search through position openings and subsequently send in their resumes using the Windows platform.
  • Modz - enables children to measure blood sugar levels and help manage them, which is a perfect solution due to majority of kids owning a smartphone.

It's positive to see Nokia and Microsoft back such useful ideas and turn them into real solutions for the Windows Phone community. It's also an exciting time for consumers to be heading for Nokia's unveil of Windows Phone hardware as well as seeing what kind of projects are currently in development by talented startups.

Source: TechCrunch; thanks, Laura, for the heads up!

Rich Edmonds
Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.

9 Comments
  • Don't look now, cause Nokia is teaming up with others to bring more apps to the platform! Never see Samsung or HTC doing any of this for the platform, yet the blame is always Nokia for their "limited exclusive apps".
  • My thoughts exactly
  • I don't think the apps will be exclusive forever. It's nice to see an OEM putting effort into Windows Phone apps. The other OEMs need to step up their efforts. Then nobody will complain about what Nokia is doing.
  • Hmm
  • Think the phrase money where you mouth is, is rather apt here.
  • Well, Nokia got in a really nice deal with Microsoft. MS doesn't have everything, but it has money. Lots of money to spend.
  • The Jury is out on whether going down the WP route will be a nice deal. It certainly was a brave one that may come off, I hope it does. The fact remains Nokia seem to have a much clearer focus.
  • I just wish had the time to learn how to program...
     
    I have some ideas for apps but, I wont give them up because I hope to get the time to learn how to program,  I am in I.T. but, not on the programming aspect of it.
  • http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Windows-Camp/Windows-8-Developer-Camp-Re...
    Try looking at some of the beginners instructional videos, to bring your ideas to the world.