Google Gadget Ventures

[peter_d]

If you develop Google Gadgets, this new program should be of help:

http://www.google.com/gadgetventures/

Google Gadget Ventures is a new Google pilot program dedicated to helping developers create richer, more useful Google Gadgets. Inspired by the success of iGoogle, which has been driven by the creation by 3rd-party developers of a broad range of gadgets, Gadget Ventures provides two types of funding:

1. Grants of $5,000 to those who’ve built gadgets we’d like to see developed further. You’re eligible to apply for a grant if you’ve developed a gadget that’s in our Google gadgets directory and gets at least 250,000 weekly page views. To apply, you must submit a one-page proposal detailing how you’d use the grant to improve your gadget.
2. Seed investments of $100,000 to developers who’d like to build a business around the Google gadgets platform. Only Google Gadget Venture grant recipients are eligible for this type of funding. Submitting a business plan detailing how you plan to build a viable business around the gadgets platform is a required part of the seed investment application process

[ricomhc]

I don't use iGoogle/Google Gadgets so I'm not quite sure what the impact of 3rd party developed gadgets is, but at first glance it does seem like a nice move on Google's part. Obviously these 3rd party gadgets potentially benefit Google so it's good to see the big giant corresponding.