Storyjacker and Contentment win IC tomorrow contest
Storyjacker and Contentment are among four UK start-ups selected by Innovate UK’s digital programme, IC tomorrow, as winners of its latest £100k innovation challenge looking for inventive digital solutions for entertainment on the move
Both Storyjacker and Contentment have secured up to £25,000 funding and a partnership with industry-leading businesses to trial their ideas over the coming months.
Storyjacker won the ‘Books on the move’ category, supported by PA (Publishers Association):
Dip In by Storyjacker – A story comparison app that, as well as allowing you to find a story really suited to you, will analyse and advise you on the best books for you based on the genres and themes you tend to prefer.
David Jackson, CEO of Storyjacker, said:
“We’re thrilled to have won the IC Tomorrow competition and to be working with the PA and partner publishers on this project. The DipIn app is designed to offer casual readers a fun and easy route into reading. Now we have the funding and partnerships we need to make it a success.”
Richard Mollet, Chief Executive, The Publishers Association Limited, said:
“All three of the final proposals were very exciting in how they proposed engaging with casual readers through mobile. However, it was StoryJacker’s Dip In app that had the best combination of an innovative idea, a workable trial proposal that caught the judges’ imagination. As the challenge partner The PA is now looking forward to taking the idea forward.”
Contentment won the ‘Magazines on the move’ category supported by PPA (Professional Publishers Association):
Padify Kids by Contentment – A turnkey mobile publishing solution for kids magazines, allowing apps to work just as well on mobile as tablets, with exciting interactivity that goes beyond simple PDFs.
Michael Kowalski, CEO of Contentment, said:
“All the team here are super excited about this win. We think kids’ digital magazines offer a great opportunity for publishers, if we can solve the difficult technical challenges. Children’s publishing and digital are both strong sectors for the UK, and we look forward to working with the PPA to bring the two together.”
Both projects will see products and services being brought to market, with the entrepreneurs retaining all of their IP.
Latest figures from the Ofcom Communications Market Report show that smartphone take-up increased to 61% last year, while over four in ten households now own a tablet. On top of that, the UK has the highest percentage of web traffic from mobile devices in the whole of Europe, as well as the highest online consumer spend per head.
The contest called for four specific commercial solutions to growing industry opportunities, focused around mobile innovations in books, music, magazines and games/interactive entertainment. The winning entrepreneurs will help their industry partners capitalise on new opportunities presented by increased connectivity and a rapidly growing mobile market.
For more information about the competitions please visit www.ictomorrow.innovateuk.org