Angry Birds publisher backs Manchester students’ new ‘hype’ app

Two students from Manchester have received backing for a new app from the publisher of Angry Birds.

Alex Blundell, a computer science student at the University of St Andrews, and James Gordon, have received the backing from the co-founders of Chillingo for their new app, called Delv, which its website claims has been developed ‘by students for students’.

The app, which was launched in Manchester last week, is designed to let students know about the best places to be on a night out by gathering “live data from various sources before and throughout the night to determine the most ‘hyped’ events”.

According to Blundell the app also gives students who use the app exclusive deals to many events:

“Delv is completely free for students to download and use, and we even offer money-saving deals for events – from discounted entry to free drinks

“Students love anything that’ll save them money! At the same time, we think they’ll love the ability to see where the most popular event is, in real time, as the night progresses.”

Speaking to the Mancunion, Blundell said there was a gap in the market that Delv could fill: “There’s a few apps on the App Store that we’ve noticed are essentially ‘lists’ of venues/events, and require you to ‘check in’. When using these apps, there was no activity at all, and we feel that’s because students don’t feel they’ll get any benefit out of checking in. Finding out the hype of every event ourselves, whilst giving students some great deals at their favourite venues, is a win-win situation.”

After receiving backing, Gordon and Blundell set up a limited company with Chris Byatte and Joe Wee. the co-founders of the games publisher Chillingo.

Chillingo, which has published Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, is now a division of Electronic Arts (EA), which purchased it for $20 million in 2010.

Blundell told the Mancunion that the app, which is currently only available in Manchester, will soon be expanded to other areas of the country:

“Over the next few months, we’ll be developing the Android version of the app, as well as moving into various different cities. We hope to continue this expansion throughout all major UK cities by the end of the year.”