The BlackBerry Partners Fund just announced their annual Developer Challenge. Prizes are nice and big this year as you can see below but only the grand prize and runner up actually get any cash since the rest of the prizes are things like a DevCon pass, BlackBerrys, and placement on the App World featured apps. 16 finalists will be chosen from submissions which start today!
Some things to note:
- To apply your application needs to be in the BlackBerry App World
- If you are accepted as one of the 16 finalists you need to attend DevCon for the final judging round (Which will be well worth it)
- Every 30 days or so the Partners Fund will select 4 finalists based on:
- Compelling product or service
- Clearly defined value proposition
- Viable business model
- Technical execution
- Kyle did a good job of describing why Quebec is excluded from the competition
Full details are below or at this link
Period
The BlackBerry Partners Fund™ Developer Challenge (the "Challenge") is designed for BlackBerry® developers that have created their own BlackBerry applications. The Challenge will take place from 12:00 A.M. (Eastern Standard Time) June 1, 2009 to 11:59 P.M. (Eastern Standard Time) September 25, 2009 (the "Challenge Period").
Eligibility
The Challenge is open to developers working on a BlackBerry application. In order to be eligible, developers may be individuals resident, or entities located anywhere (excluding the province of Quebec). Individuals must be over the age of majority in the province, territory or state in which they reside. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. This Challenge is subject to federal, state/provincial, and local laws. This Challenge is void where it is prohibited or restricted by law. Applicants do not have to attend the BlackBerry Developer Conference in order to submit an original application, however Finalists must attend DevCon in San Francisco (California, USA) on November 9, 2009 in order to be considered in the final judging round. Finalists are solely responsible for all costs not specifically described herein as part of the prize including transportation costs to and from the DevCon in San Francisco (California, USA), accommodations, passport renewal fees, travel insurance, personal purchases, meals, drinks, additional ground transportation, taxes, gratuities and any incidental expenses, and must possess a valid passport.
How To Enter
To participate in the Challenge you must:
- Submit your application to BlackBerry App World.
- Upon acceptance to App World you will automatically be invited to apply to the Developers Challenge by email with a link to the on-line registration form. You will require a BlackBerry App World Vendor ID# for each application submitted and that you are registering for the Developer Challenge.
- The invitation to apply to the Developers Challenge will include a link to the on-line registration form. You will require a BlackBerry App World Vendor ID# for each application submitted and that you are registering for the Developer Challenge.
- If your application is not free you must submit ten (10) keys for use by the judging panel
Note: Applications submitted to BlackBerry App World before June 1, 2009 (the Challenge Period) will NOT be considered for this Challenge. Applications must be submitted to BOTH BlackBerry App World and to the BlackBerry Partners Fund Challenge website. Please read the full Challenge Terms and Conditions before registration.
Key Dates
- 2009 Developer Challenge announced at WES: May 4, 2009
- Official registration opens: June 1, 2009
- June Submission Period: June 1 – 25, 2009
- July Submission Period: June 26 – July 25, 2009
- August Submission Period: July 26 – August 25, 2009
- September Submission Period: August 26 – September 25, 2009
- Submission Period closes: September 25, 2009
- Four (4) Finalists notified each month: July 1st, August 1st, September 1st, and October 1st, 2009
- Sixteen (16) Finalist presentations at BlackBerry Developer Conference: November 9, 2009
- Selection and announcement of winner at BlackBerry Developers Conference in San Francisco, CA: November 10, 2009
Process
To participate in the Challenge, applicants must register during the Challenge Period online by completing all required fields on the official entry form (link provided by RIM) including any supporting documentation and the original BlackBerry application required for evaluation. Applicants may submit more than one application to the Challenge (each application must be unique).
First Round Judging
Each of the following is defined as a Contest Month: June 1 through June 25, 2009, June 26 through July 25, 2009, July 26 through August 25, 2009 and August 26 through September 25, 2009. Following the end of a Contest Month a panel of judges chosen by BBPF will select four (4) finalists (“Finalists”) from Qualified Applications received in that Contest Month, based on the following criteria:
- Compelling product or service
- Clearly defined value proposition
- Viable business model
- Technical execution
A total of sixteen (16) Finalists will be selected for the Challenge Period. Finalists will be notified by telephone or email within five (5) days of the end of each Contest Month in which they submitted their application.
Final Judging
Final judging will be by a panel and will take place at the BlackBerry Developers Conference (“DevCon”) on November 9, 2009. Finalists must attend DevCon and present to the panel in person to qualify and be considered for the Grand and Runner-up Prizes. Each finalist will have five (5) minutes to present and demo to the panel and appropriate time for questions and answers. The panel will select one grand prize winner and one runner-up (the “Winners”) from the sixteen (16) Finalists based on the following criteria:
- Compelling product or service
- Clearly defined value proposition
- Viable business model
- Technical execution
- Quality of demonstration and presentation
Grand Prize winner and runner-up will be announced on-stage at the BlackBerry Developers Conference on November 10, 2009. Finalists must attend the BlackBerry Developers Conference and present, in-person, to qualify and be considered for the Grand Prize.
Prizes
Prizes awarded are subject to change at anytime and without notice to Challenge Entrants. The chances of winning are dependent on the number of entries received. All prizes in US dollars.
Finalist Prize Packages
A total of sixteen (16) Finalist Prize Packages will be awarded during the Challenge Period. Each finalist will be awarded one (1) Finalist Prize Package (approx. retail value of each Value Package is $5000) consisting of:
- One week on the App World Featured Application Carousel
- One DevCon Pass
- One BlackBerry smartphone
- Participation in BlackBerry Partner Fund Demo Event (“BlackBerry Sweet 16”) at DevCon
Grand Prize Winner
One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded consisting of a cash prize of $75,000 plus a $25,000 Grand Prize Package (approx. retail value of the Grand Prize is $100,000). The Grand Prize Package consists of:
- One one-year Elite BlackBerry Alliance membership
- One day Mentoring Session with RIM in Waterloo (Ontario, Canada), providing analysis, review and insights into how best to improve the application on BlackBerry
- Press release and Featured Interviews with Media
- Two weeks on the App World Featured Application Carousel
- Potential investment offer from the BlackBerry Partners Fund
Runner-up Winner
One (1) Runner-up Prize will be awarded consisting of a cash prize of $10,000 plus a $15,000 Runner-up Prize Package (approx. retail value of the Runner-up prize is $25,000). The Runner-up Value Package consists of:
- One-year Select BlackBerry Alliance membership
- One day Mentoring Session with RIM in Waterloo (Ontario, Canada), providing analysis, review and insights into how best to improve the application on BlackBerry
- Press release
- One week on the App World Featured Application Carousel
