Calling all app developers: the 2014 OzApp awards are open for entry

One of Australia’s leading app development competitions is calling for entries from entrepreneurs who have built creative apps for mobile, web or cloud systems this year.

The 2014 OzAPP Awards is now open for entry. Applications will close December 13. The competition and event was launched three years ago to increase collaboration between innovators, ICT developers, investors and industry.

The judging panel will be headed up by Bill Tai, a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and investor behind Charles River Ventures, and include representatives from Samsung, Silicon Valley Bank, Optus and Bankwest.

The full judging panel and breakdown of the combined cash and prize awards will be announced next week, but event coordinator Paula Taylor told StartupSmart Bill Tai will be joined by Google Australia’s head of engineering Alan Noble, Samsung’s chief of strategy Young Sohn, managing partner of Silicon Valley Bank, Aaron Gershenberg, and Othman Laraki, former vice president of growth for Twitter.

In a release, Tai said he was excited to be part of the initiative.

“Applicants will be judged according to what the app offers, the market need for the product and its path to revenue,” Tai said. “I look forward to seeing the unique and innovative entries in the competition.”

Tai will be part of a road show of keynotes, workshops, networking and mentoring sessions in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Singapore in September.

“The standard of entries from Australia is very high, and it is great to see the whole industry coming together through initiatives such as StartupAUS. There is growing international interest in the Australian market, and to have US investors looking at Australia as a potential growth market is really exciting,” Taylor says.

Short-listed applicants will have Skype interviews with the judging panel, before five shortlisted app developers are flown to Perth for the final pitch on 16 to 18 February 2014 as part of a West Tech Fest to celebrate innovation in Perth.