Mobile app crowdsharing platform, Dandy is giving one aspiring Canadian app creator the chance to have their app built and launched within 60 days. A jury of technical, commercialization and marketing experts, will select the winner from 10 candidates with Alec Saunders, VP Developer Relations for BlackBerry as a guest.
This is a part of Dandy’s 60 Day Challenge in which the community will vote on submitted app ideas, winners are chosen and Dandy takes the app from concept to launch within 60 days. This has been made possible thanks to a recent $300,000 investment from BlackBerry and BDC Ventures.
Press release:
Aspiring App Creators In With A Chance To Build And Launch An App Within 60 Days
Tune into the live stream at 1pm ET where one lucky entrant will be selected to have their app built and launched in Las Vegas this January
Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA, November 20, 2013 – Mobile app crowdsharing platform, Dandy will launch the first round of their 60 Day Challenge by giving one aspiring Canadian app creator the chance to have their app built and launched within 60 days.
10 app ideas have been chosen by the Dandy community to go through to the final evaluation, which will be on LiveStream today at 1pm ET.
A jury of technical, commercialization and marketing experts, will select the winner with Alec Saunders, VP Developer Relations for BlackBerry as a guest.
The winning app will be developed for the BlackBerry®, Android and iOS platforms, with the launch planned for January 6th, 2014, in Las Vegas.
Dandy provides aspiring app creators everywhere with a chance to have their idea developed and launched as a finished app in just 60 days.
Everyone is encouraged to submit their app ideas to Dandy who’s community of app enthusiasts vote for their favorite idea. No technical, design or development skills are needed to participate.
“We want to support anyone with a good idea, anyone who says, ‘I wish there was an app for that,’ and help make it happen,” says Matt Scobel, CEO of Dandy. “With our development team, marketing capabilities, support from BlackBerry and BDC Venture Capital, we can help anyone with an app idea turn it into reality in a matter of two months.”
Dandy graduated from the Communitech HYPERDRIVE incubator in April 25th, 2013, and closed a$300,000 funding round on September 27th, 2013, from BlackBerry and BDC Venture Capital.
“Dandy has found an appealing way to solicit what customers can dream of in an app, and the talent to bring that app idea to fruition,” said Lynda Chau, Director of Marketing Developer Relations at BlackBerry. “We’re excited to work with Communitech and BDC Venture Capital to support Dandy’s 60 Day Challenge, and look forward to seeing what innovative ideas are submitted for mobile apps.”
“BDC Venture Capital is a strong supporter tech ventures and entrepreneurs across Canada, including accelerators such as the Communitech HYPERDRIVE accelerator. Dandy is an example of the innovation potential in Waterloo Region having taken a creative approach to mobile app development, building on the very exciting trends in crowd sourcing,” states Michael Mahon, Director of Strategic Investments and Initiatives at BDC Venture Capital. “Our investment in Dandy is part of our ongoing work to ensure the success of Canada’s most promising early-stage tech start-ups. We wish Matt and his team all the best with thelaunch of Dandy – they certainly have what it takes to succeed.”
Competition Milestones (dates for your diary):
•November 7, 2013 – 60 Day Challenge kicks off. New ideas can be submitted to the Dandy community
•November 21, 2013 – The Winning App. Top 10 ideas are reviewed, and the winning app is selected by a jury of technical, commercialization and marketing experts
•December 21, 2013 – Beta release. Contributing members get the early version for testing
•January 6, 2014 – App is launched for BlackBerry and other platforms
Division of Royalties
Dandy shares 30 percent of the royalties with the winner of the 60 Day Challenge and the Dandy community. The royalties are divided as follows:
•8% to the winner of the 60 Day Challenge
•2% to the community who voted during the 60 Day Challenge
•2.5% between the community and winner of the 60 Day Challenge for their input into each phase of the development: Name, tagline, logo, features, revenue model UI/UX, beta testing, and market research, which comes to 20% of the total royalties.
About Dandy
Dandy is a community driven crowdsharing platform for mobile app development. Users suggest app ideas and participate in voting, feedback, design, funding and development. When apps are made, Dandy shares revenue with the entire community based on their level of contribution.
About BDC Venture Capital
With more than $1 billion under management and more than 25 years of industry experience, BDCVenture Capital is an investor of choice focusing on IT, health and energy/cleantech companies, as well as venture funds, with high growth potential. From seed through expansion to exit, our mandate is to help build outstanding Canadian companies, while working to create a sound financial ecosystem for Canadian technology ventures. Find out more atwww.bdc.ca/vcor on Twitter @BDC_VC.
About Communitech HYPERDRIVE
HYPERDRIVE is a $30-million-plus tech startup incubator program with a global focus to seed, fund, and grow new businesses. HYPERDRIVE builds early-stage tech startups from “Seed to Series A” VC funded companies. The program features leading investors, world-class mentors, international soft landings and full lifecycle support. HYPERDRIVE kicks Canadian tech up a notch.
HYPERDRIVE is open to all early-stage technology startups from any geographic location. Companies must locate in Canada’s top technology hub in Waterloo Region, Ontario, to participate in the three-month sprint part of the program.
Dandy participated in the second HYPERDRIVE cohort, which they graduated from April 25th, 2013.