Apple opens App Store Foundations Program in UK

Build the future, one app at a time

Apple today extended its App Store Foundations Program to the UK, placing initial focus particularly on female founders as the company seeks to boost female representation in the industry.

What is the App Store Foundations Program?

Apple’s App Store Foundations Program provides developers with additional support to help create even better apps. It offers developers on the program a tailored curriculum, including one-to-one and group sessions with App Store leaders from across the UK and Europe.

While on the program, developers learn how to make better use of Apple’s tech and the APIs it provides, how to strengthen their editorial content, and how to build presence on the App Store. They also gain guidance in monetisation, marketing, and a host of other topics to help their vision – and their business – grow.

They also gain continued access to Apple experts once they exit the scheme.

Over 1,000 European developers have already benefitted from this scheme.

What Apple said

“The UK has a thriving developer community and we’re thrilled to play a role in supporting it,” said Jen Walsh, senior director of the App Store and Services, International.

“Crucial to the continued innovation and progress of the App Store is ensuring there is a diverse set of developers that can build brilliant apps to meet the needs of users around the world. The launch of the App Store Foundations Program here in the UK, with its focus on female developers, will help nurture the existing community of female founders here and inspire the next generation to follow in their footsteps.”

Apple points out that the iOS app economy supported over 440,000 UK jobs in 2021, up 21% on 2020. The UK has emerged as the current leading provider of iOS app economy jobs in Europe, where it has grown to support 2.3 million jobs.

In addition, research from independent economists at the Analysis Group released earlier this year showed that smaller UK developers, defined as those making up to $1 million a year and with fewer than 1 million annual downloads, saw an 84 percent increase in earnings since 2019.

[Also read: 12 Apple statistics about App Store fraud in 2020]

Who is on the App Store Foundation Program?

The company also celebrated some of the developers taking part in its first UK foundation program, what it says follows:

SPOKE

Based in East London, SPOKE helps users sleep better and strengthen their mindset with a unique blend of lo-fi music, hip-hop, and mindfulness. Each soothing “episode” features music and spoken word by some of the UK’s best producers and rising artists, all of whom have been trained by neuroscientists, psychologists, and therapists. Each episode is a meditation created for music lovers who would like to improve mental and emotional health and provides a moment of calm to encourage relaxation, create headspace, and boost confidence.

“We’re excited to be one of the first developers to participate in the UK App Store Foundations Program,” said Ariana Alexander-Sefre, founder and co-CEO of SPOKE. “Working closely with the team at Apple has given us a great boost, and we look forward to building on the strengths of SPOKE, helping our users to enjoy an even richer, more exciting experience. We’re excited to see what the future holds.”

Great to meet with our class of all-female founders at our first Foundations program in the UK. These developers are on their way to making and achieving extraordinary things. pic.twitter.com/nkXZ9TOLzv

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) September 27, 2022

Frolo

Frolo is a trusted online hub that supports and empowers single parents. Frolo Community offers friendship, connection, guidance, and meetups while Frolo Dating is a safe space for single parent dating. Both modes are fully user verified, ensuring the safest experience, and are separate offerings, all within the Frolo app.

“We’re thrilled to partner with experts at Apple as part of the App Store Foundations Program,” said Zoë Desmond, founder of Frolo. “Our goal is to provide our users with the very best experience, and the team has no doubt that with Apple’s backing can we not only make this possible, but also grow to reach even more users as we expand the services we offer. We can’t wait to get started.”

Your Juno

Personal finance app Your Juno aims to educate women and nonbinary people on a range of money matters. Users swipe through fun, bite-size lessons to learn about paying off debt, buying a home, investing, and more. Each lesson is written by a team of financial advisors and takes just minutes to complete.

“We’ve got ambitious growth plans and the App Store Foundations Program gives us the perfect platform to achieve them,” said Alexia de Broglie, co-founder of Your Juno. “Partnering with the App Store team will enable us to focus on key topics like user experience, marketing, and international expansion. We know these are vital to our future success so it’s great to have the opportunity to focus on these in the upcoming weeks.”

The App opportunity business

An app marketplace where business owners can reach customers around the world, the App Store encompasses 175 countries and over 40 languages, with more than 180 local payment methods and 45 accepted currencies. It’s inarguable that the App Store has generated huge business opportunity for many, and it’s probable it will continue to do so in future.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.