Posts Tagged ‘jens begemann’

My start-up decision: It’s casual games

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

by Jens Begemann

 

Since I left Jamba/Jamster/Fox Mobile I spent a couple of weeks looking at various start-up ideas and made my call: I am currently founding a start-up in Berlin in the casual games sector. In the first place it will be web flash games, not mobile as many of you supposed.

The market for web-based casual games (i.e. games with low entry barriers that appeal to a broad target group and can be played in instances of 5-10 minutes) is extremely crowded, but I think I found an interesting niche to start in.

I will self-finance the first couple of months, go live and get some traction. Depending on traction, I will then look for business angel/ VC funding. Until then I will likely not make permanent hires, but instead work with freelancers and interns.

I am currently looking for:

  • Interns working on research, game concepts, further competitive analysis and doing beta testing: They get the unique opportunity to experience the very early stage of a web start-up.
  • Freelancers for Flash game-development and PHP site development
  • A great, extremely creative game designer that is interested to join my start-up (on a permanent basis, not as a freelancer)

If you are interested in the opportunities above or you know a potential candidate please contact me via Facebook, LinkedIn or Xing.

My trip to Silicon Valley & LA: Sept. 6th-15th

Saturday, September 6th, 2008

I just arrived in San Francisco. Till Sept. 15th I will be in Silicon Valley (Sept. 6-13) and LA (Sept. 14&15) to attend the start-up conference TechCrunch50 and to meet many old friends, former colleagues and potential partners.

I use the time to verify my start-up idea. I have a couple of concepts in my mind, but one is on top of the list and I want to make a go/no-go decision in the next couple of weeks.

If you happen to be close to San Francisco/LA during the time drop my a mail to meet. Contact me via Facebook, LinkedIn or Xing.

See you there,
Jens Begemann

Being a jury member in the Google Android Developer Challenge

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

The first mobile phone based on Google’s Android Operating System will launch later this year. To foster development of apps, Google kicked of the Android Developer Challenge end of last year to award a total $5 million for the best android apps developed till summer of this year.

A couple of weeks ago Google asked me to become one of the seven judges to select the winners of the ten $275,000 awards and the ten $100,000 awards out of the 50 finalists (a total of 1,788 Android applications had originally been submitted). It was an honor for me to be part of the jury.

Google announced the winners last Friday:
List of the award winners and finalist
The 7 judges

Now I look forward to use the first Android phone in practice – will it be the best phone in the world (see my current favorite)?