ROK throws lifeline to developers

VC MONEY dried up? Well, the ROK Entertainment Group is attempting to fill the vacuum where mobile phone apps are concerned. It's just launched the ROK Developer Challenge where funds are channelled to innovative ideas despite the harsh economic climate.

According to Bruce Renny, ROK's marketing director, the establishment of the Challenge and its associated developers' forum is merely a formalisation of what had been happening on an ad-hoc basis. Developers had already approached ROK with their ideas with the hope of acquiring backing.

"I think we are the only 'agnostic' developers' forum in the mobile space," Renny told the INQ. "We don't have a bias towards any particular OS or network operator." Renny pointed out that while ROK has its own in-house development team, it doesn't have a monopoly on good ideas.

"We're not asking people to hand over their code immediately," Renny explained. "We're just giving them an opportunity to come to us and show us their ideas." In the past, ROK has set up joint ventures as well as investing in promising projects.

Given the High Street banks' attitude towards lending at present, ROK's move could well be a lifeline to struggling mobile startups. µ