Companies all around the world are betting heavily on the prospects of mobile social gaming with TapJoy and OpenFeint launching dedicated funds to help developers make their games more social. Now CrowdStar and YouWeb are teaming-up over a similar initiative, $10 million StarFund, to “help spur the next generation of mobile social gaming innovation.”
Interested developers can already apply to receive up to $250,000 in funding to develop their mobile games, if they are selected as part of StarFund. Aside from cash, CrowdStar will also offer marketing and analytics resources to selected teams that have produced strong, polished products. What’s more, selected developers may also get assistance in entering global markets through CrowdStar’s partnerships in Asia and Europe.
Developers will be selected by an investment guru from YouWeb’s team and CrowdStar’s founder, Suren Markosian, who led the vision behind CrowdStar’s biggest hits, including “Happy Aquarium,” “Happy Island,” “It Girl” and “Top Girl.”