Black Ocean Partners with APPNATION to Create App Incubator

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Ocean, the digital media company that invests in, builds and operates technology businesses around the world, today announced a strategic investment in APPNATION, the leading independent global conference and expo focusing on the burgeoning app economy, to create an app incubator at APPNATION. The APPNATION – Black Ocean Incubator will support mobile app development by innovative, early-stage companies. The incubator today begins accepting app submissions for consideration across a range of categories – from mobile commerce to augmented reality.

Under the terms of the partnership, Black Ocean will work with APPNATION to identify talented entrepreneurs and developers at APPNATION events and create a dedicated incubator to fund, seed and bring to market the most promising new apps. The APPNATION – Black Ocean Incubator will launch in early 2012, and plans to identify inaugural entrepreneurs at APPNATION III this week.

"Our partnership with APPNATION will create extraordinary opportunities for entrepreneurs and app developers," said Oliver Ripley, co-founder and CEO of Black Ocean. "APPNATION is unmatched as a forum for the best and brightest in the app space. By bringing Black Ocean's resources and operational expertise to APPNATION's rising stars, we will ensure that promising ideas emerge as successful businesses. In the process, we'll build a strong network of companies poised to meet growing consumer demand for mobile content."

"As the first conference dedicated entirely to the business of apps, it was important to find a partner that shared our focus and long-term vision," said Drew Ianni, founder, president and event chairman at APPNATION. "Black Ocean's 'collective entrepreneurship' approach – working closely with sector experts to grow successful businesses together – makes them an ideal partner for APPNATION and an invaluable resource to our entrepreneurs and developers."

Entrepreneurs and developers can submit their apps to the APPNATION – Black Ocean Incubator by completing the online form at https://appnationconference.wufoo.com/forms/appnation-black-ocean-incubator-inquiry-form/.

Black Ocean's intensified focus on apps builds on its announcement earlier this month that it acquired a majority stake in LMK – a free, topic-driven mobile app currently in beta – from Hearst Entertainment & Syndication. Black Ocean plans to relaunch LMK in early 2012.

Black Ocean CEO Oliver Ripley will attend APPNATION III and CMO Michael Kelley will moderate the event's Keynote Executive Roundtable on Thursday, December 1.

Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

About Black Ocean
Black Ocean is a digital media company that invests in, builds and operates technology businesses around the world. Through its strategic holding division, Black Ocean actively manages a complementary network of businesses across video, social, mobile and e-commerce. Through its incubator, it turns smart ideas into successful businesses. Black Ocean is a new kind of company on the front line of innovation, creating value, efficiency, engagement, and revenue for its customers and shareholders. Black Ocean has offices in New York City, London, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Moscow.

About APPNATION
APPNATION is a new executive conference and exposition focusing on the burgeoning consumer applications industry. APPNATION is a unit of M2 Events, LLC, a new conference and thought leadership production company founded by Drew Ianni, a 15-year digital media and marketing industry veteran and former Programming Chairman and Senior Global Analyst for ad:tech, a leading digital media and marketing conference and exposition. Mr. Ianni has also held senior analyst and executive positions at firms such as Jupiter Communications, Lazard Freres & Co, and BBDO.

SOURCE Rubenstein Communications