AMAZON WEB SERVICES “START-UP CHALLENGE”: UPDATE ON REGIONAL SEMI-FINALISTS AND FINALIST FROM ASIA PACIFIC

India, Bangalore, Wednesday, November 24, 2010: Following our announcement back in August this year on Amazon Web Services Start-Up Challenge, I am pleased to update you that we have selected five regional semi-finalists and one finalist from Asia Pacific for its fourth annual “Start-Up Challenge”. The regional semi-finalists from Asia Pacific are:

• LabSlice (Australia): LabSlice allows businesses to create demos, evaluations and training environments that are stored in the AWS cloud which can be easily shared.
• Kaggle (Australia): Kaggle provides statistical/analytics outsourcing on AWS cloud via global data modeling competitions for businesses and researchers to upload datasets and problems, allowing data scientists to submit solutions and compete for prizes.
• Mediology (India): Mediology provides software-as-a-service solution on AWS cloud that enable print publishers to digitize their print content, add social media interactivity and distribute the content via web and mobile devices.
• Dialify (India): Dialify builds applications and social games on AWS cloud, with dynamic audio interfaces for easy delivery over telecommunication networks in India.
• Cinemacraft (Japan): Cinemacraft provides a single platform for mobile as well as IPTV services on AWS cloud that enables the delivery of high quality live video or video on demand on networks such as 2.5G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, broadband.

Mediology, a start-up company from India, has been qualified as one of the seven global finalists. The global finalists are chosen after several rounds of evaluation and judging from entries submitted across 22 countries around the world. All contestants are evaluated based on the originality and creativity, the likelihood of long-term success and scalability, how well they address a need in the marketplace, and the degree to which the business implements and integrates the pay-as-you-go technology platform and services offered by AWS.

Regional semi-finalists will receive US$2,500 in AWS service credits. Global finalists will receive US$10,000 in AWS service credits and a trip to Palo Alto, CA., U.S.A for the final judging and awards ceremony. The global grand prize winner will be awarded US$50,000 cash, US$50,000 in AWS service credits, premium support services and technical mentorship from Amazon Web Services for one year, as well as a possible investment offer from Amazon.

The grand finals will be held on 8^th December 2010 in Palo Alto, CA., U.S.A. for judging as well as the prize award ceremony. The final events will be streamed live to allow the greater community to tune in for the winner announcements.  For more information about the AWS Start-Up Challenge, please visit: http://aws.amazon.com/startupchallenge. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or my PR agency, Harsh Mehta,[email protected].