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AppCampus, the three-year mobile acceleration program now ending, has helped app developers becoming entrepreneurs and in creating high-quality and more innovative mobile applications than the average.

The three-year program, AppCampus, initiated in 2012 by Microsoft, Nokia and Aalto University, is drawing to an end as planned. The program was managed and hosted by Aalto University in the Otaniemi Campus, in Espoo, Finland.

The program has provided mobile developers with funding and coaching in mobile technologies, design and usability. The start-ups have had a global distribution channel for their apps through the Windows Phone Store. The attendees have also received business coaching and guidance in monetizing their apps from the best mobile coaches.

AppCampus was a global program, which attracted innovative students and mobile start-ups around the world. This, for its part, has enforced the position of Finland, Espoo and Aalto University as a hub for mobile app development. It has become evident, that Finland is a favorable location for mobile app start-ups, because of the strong gaming industry, among other things. Two thirds of the world-class AppCampus coaches are Finnish.

-The AppCampus operative model has proven very good. It has brought new action and know-how to our already active campus and innovation ecosystem. We have been able to recycle learnings from the program for example in the health technology focused Vertical accelerator, launched in February, says Tuija Pulkkinen, Vice President of Research and Innovation, Aalto University.

AppCampus has created innovative apps

The AppCampus start-ups have published 315 apps during the program. Altogether 4300 teams from over 100 countries applied for the program. One fifth of the 305 start-ups approved in the program are Finnish. AppCampus helped developers increase quality and chances for success, which is proven by AppCampus apps generating nearly 7 times more downloads compared to an average app in the Windows Phone Store.  Paid AppCampus apps have generated more than twice the revenue compared to average in the Windows Phone Store. According to a study among the AppCampus teams, the program has helped in creating at least 850 new jobs, of which 59 are in Finland.

AppCampus has created interesting content into Microsoft’s mobile ecosystem:
PhotoMath reads and solves mathematical problems by using the camera of your mobile device in real time. It makes math easy and simple by educating users how to solve math problems.
- We presented the concept and idea of PhotoMath for the first time at a local AppCampus event in Croatia, and after feedback from mentors and other participants, we knew we were on the right track. After that, receiving a grant from AppCampus made the PhotoMath app a reality, as it gave us the opportunity to focus purely on product development without distractions, says Damir Sabol, CEO, PhotoPay, the company behind the app.

SongArc is a social music game for mobile devices with a gameplay that brings you intimately close to the music.
- SongArc simply couldn’t have become the success it is today without AppCampus. We would not be a promising startup, currently raising a second round of investment, and we couldn’t have built a great and growing network in Hollywood and the Silicon Valley without them. AppCampus helped us with funding, advice, promotion in- and outside of Microsoft, and came to our aid when we got stuck. And most importantly, they helped us in bringing music and joy to almost 2 million people. For this, the SongArc team feels extremely lucky and thankful for having been part of the AppCampus portfolio, says András Velvárt, CEO, SongArc.

Finland-based We Did It® is a mobile tool for active couples therapy. It helps couples solve problems in a totally new way, by themselves without books, lectures or therapy sessions.
- Digital health apps provide people with valuable solutions in an easier, faster and more intimate way than it has ever been done before. The greatest thing is that these solutions can be duplicated in an instant to reach and help as many people as possible.  We combined familiar gaming elements with cognitive behavioural science and positive psychology to create an easily approachable service for all couples wanting to be happier in their relationship. We thank AppCampus for all the valuable support during the process, says Peeter Lange, CEO, Olento Life Ltd.