Microsoft BizSpark Grant, AppCampus

Deadline: ongoing
Open to: privately held companies, which are developing software, less than five years old, making less than US $1M annually
Grant: €20,000-€70,000

Description

The AppCampus program was set up to foster the creation of innovative mobile apps and drive business opportunities in the mobile ecosystem. The Program offers a guaranteed number of grants to BizSpark startups, ranging from €20,000-€70,000 help support their efforts to build compelling Windows Phone apps. AppCampus provides also coaching services, training in mobile technology, design and usability support. AppCampus doesn’t take equity or commission, but selected apps will need to be available exclusively on the Windows Phone or Nokia platforms for the first six months.

Microsoft BizSpark is a global program that helps software startups succeed by giving them access to software development tools, connecting them with key industry players, and providing marketing visibility. The program also includes access to Windows Azure, a flexible, comprehensive, and powerful cloud platform for the creation of web applications and services.

Eligibility:

It is an opportunity for companies which are:

  • Developing software
  • Privately held
  • Less than five years old
  • Making less than US $1M annually

Broadly, the criteria are:

  1. Innovative. First-to-Market
  2. Not already in competing app marketplaces or building the app on a competitive platform. Note that your existing app may qualify if you enhance your app significantly on the Windows Phone platform by taking full advantage of the Windows Phone platform capability.
  3. Supports key features as they become available (for example maps, location-awareness, camera, near-field communications, accelerometer, Live Tiles, push notification, in-app purchase, in-app advertising, in-app analytic, try-buy, and subscriptions).
  4. Design elegance, technical quality and performance (proto, mock-up, design documents).
  5. Potential to drive momentum (promoting mobile user experience, new areas of mobile usage, mobile business innovation etc.)
  6. Of particular interest are companies that are also developing on other Microsoft technologies, including Windows 8 and Windows Azure, Microsoft’s Cloud Computing Platform.

Grant

AppCampus offers grants to BizSpark startups, ranging from €20,000-€70,000. AppCampus provides also coaching services, training in mobile technology, design and usability support.

How to apply?

To qualify, startups need to be members of BizSpark. You can sign up here

You can submit your application form here

Please include your BizSparkAccount ID  (and the name of your Microsoft sponsor, if you have one) in question 15. Companies will be selected and notified quarterly.

Official website

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