A GLASGOW technology start-up which is developing an app aimed at enabling anybody to create and share games, programs, and interactive content on smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers has secured £75,000 of funding from Creative Scotland.
The funding will enable Zapcoder, founded by media and technology lawyer and entrepreneur Roger Dubar, to bring its app to market.
Mr Dubar said: "More than 30 million people in the UK carry smartphones, yet less than 1%of us program computers because it's viewed as being too complicated. Smartphones are incredibly powerful devices and our app opens up their potential as a creative tool for everybody. It is our aim to have people all over the world creating and sharing Zapcoder games and apps by spring 2014."
Separately, Mr Dubar highlighted ambitions to raise funding by January to enable Zapcoder to take on at least three, and possibly four, full-time staff members.
Mr Dubar is the firm's only permanent employee, although he highlighted the contribution made to the app by interns and many others who have done work on the project.
He said the app would be offered free of charge through the company's web-site. Zapcoder plans to make money by charging for some content, such as additional graphics, and for supplying services to the likes of companies which might want to use the app for marketing purposes.
Mr Dubar added that "proof of concept" work undertaken with the University of the West of Scotland, with funding from economic development agency Scottish Enterprise, had shown that the technology worked.
Zapcoder has partnered with Dunfermline software developer Planys Cloud to build the system.
Steven Wexelstein, chief operating officer at Planys Cloud, said: "The rising popularity of systems like Steam and Minecraft shows that modifying and creating content can be as engaging as just playing games."
Aly Barr, development officer at Creative Scotland, said: "Anyone with a smartphone can easily create and share their own games. As a tool to innovate and educate, this is something special."
Zapcoder has been based at Entrepreneurial Spark's Glasgow "hatchery" since August. ESpark, whose backers include businessmen Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Haughey, provides free infrastructure and mentoring support to help entrepreneurs establish businesses.
Jim Duffy, chief executive of ESpark, said: "I'm sure this investment is just the beginning as Roger works to grow Zapcoder."
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