Google Play announced on the 28th that it was recruiting developers for the 4th window program.
The ‘window’ program, which is an abbreviation of ‘window’ up and ‘goo’, respectively, is a growth support program for small and medium-sized companies in Korea with Google, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Startup Promotion Agency.
The window program, which was started to create a ‘window’, a door of opportunity for Korean small and medium-sized developers to advance into a broader global stage, consists of various programs to help domestic mobile app and game startups advance their contents and advance into overseas markets.
Since its inception in 2019, the program has successfully completed the 3rd term last year, and thanks to this, the 4th term is being recruited this year.
The target of participation in the window program is mobile app and game startups with less than 7 years of experience. Startups wishing to participate can check the recruitment notice and application form on the K-Startup Startup Support Portal from February 28 to March 18, 2022 and apply.
Google Play provides a variety of practical growth support programs, including ▲ growth support seminar ▲ 1:1 in-depth consulting ▲ opportunity to participate in demo day, to a total of 80 mobile app and game startups selected through evaluation. This year, by subdividing the marketing sector and launching brand and performance campaigns, the company plans to strengthen support for marketing practice, which is difficult for small and medium-sized developers.
In addition, networking opportunities have been strengthened to help participating developers communicate with each other and create synergy, such as meetupday and online and offline community operation. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups will provide up to 300 million won in commercialization funds to enhance product and service advancement.
The window program is establishing itself as a representative accelerator program that helps developers enter the global market and achieve remarkable results and success in attracting domestic investment.
▲Solitaire Farm Village (Sticky Hands), which ranked second in the first stage of the window program, has increased its annual sales by 174% since the window, and Neowiz is expected to achieve greater results in the global market as Neowiz takes over the stake in Sticky Hands. 3rd place in the first phase ▲Catch It English (Catch It Play) also successfully settled in the global market, ranking 3rd in Google Play’s Japanese education app. 2nd place 1st place ▲Mom Siter (Mam Pyeonhan World) succeeded in attracting more than 10 billion won in Series B investment, and ▲Hundred Soul (Hound 13) attracted more than 20 billion won in strategic investment after opening.
When comparing the first and second development companies before and after participating in the window program, their entry into the global market increased by 51%, and their sales increased by an average of 21%. The number of hired employees increased by an average of 50%, contributing to job creation in Korea. New investment from participating developers increased by 131%, proving the future growth potential of Korean developers. .
In the third window program that ended last year, ▲Blip (Space Audiity) ▲Ninja Wars (Game Duo) ▲Kinolights (Kinolights), which received favorable reviews for their outstanding innovativeness and differentiated competitiveness, were selected as the Top 3 programs. (In order of ranking) These developers are continuing to grow using the window program as a foothold.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Google Play were recently awarded the ‘Korea-US Cooperation Best Practice’ award by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea in recognition of their contribution to the successful overseas expansion of domestic SMEs through the window program. The window program was also recognized for its contribution to the development of Korea’s industry, such as winning the Prime Minister’s Award at the government innovation best practice contest held by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security in 2019.
More information on the announcement and application for the 4th window program can be found on the K-Startup Startup Support Portal.
