Fast-growing company develops life-saving mobile app

A fast-expanding Tyneside company are saving lives in Chicago after developing an innovative mobile app.

Gospelware, based in Gateshead, have grown rapidly since their launch in 2010 and have produced an app which lets paramedics record injuries at the scene of an accident to send videos, images and notes to the doctors at the hospital allowing them to make vital preparations.

The app, developed for a Chicago medical company is one of many for the rapidly growing company which was set up in 2010.

Gospelware specialises in creating and developing innovative mobile apps and advising on mobile marketing and strategy.

Founders Ryan Davies, 31, and Michael Dunn, 28, established Gospelware after receiving a Fellowship from DigitalCity Innovation at Teesside University.

After being made redundant from his job in the computer games industry, Michael applied for a Fellowship, which gives £4,000 to cover costs while a business idea is developed.

The Fellowship also provides mentoring and advice from industry experts at Teesside University.

Three years on, Gospelware has an annual turnover of more than £200,000, of which 40% is exports, the pair are predicting sales to reach £4m in three years time

The firm, based at the Gateshead International Business Centre, employs seven people and aim to have 34 staff by the end of 2014.

Michael said: “The fellowship helped us enormously when we were starting out.

“It helped develop our work from just an idea to having a business which is pretty much unique in just a couple of months.

“It was really good to be around like-minded people who were in a similar position to us and I still keep in contact with a lot of the other fellows from my time there.

“We’ve tried to keep our work quite varied and done all sorts of different things.”

Among the apps that Gospelware have developed is one for London Zoo which allows users to combine photographs of themselves with features of various animals.

Other apps include, Beerdog, a social networking app for beer lovers, and a series of revision guides for GCSE students.

Gospelware also developed the official app for last year’s Thinking Digital conference, held in Gateshead, which saw some of the leading figures from the worlds of technology, science and business amongst its delegates.

Ryan said: “We initially intended to just be a games company but we quickly realised that wasn’t going to be viable as it’s such a competitive market.

“However, we saw a need for some good mobile development.

“The work that we’ve been doing with the hospitals in Chicago is something I’m particularly proud of.

“It’s also an area of the market where there’s room for a lot of growth.

“What we’re doing now is what we do best and that’s designing, developing and creating some really special apps.”

Cheryl Evans, the project manager at DigitalCity Innovation, said: “Gospelware is a real success story and we’re delighted that the company is doing so well.

“We’re very proud to have been able to help Gospelware in its initial stages.

“Its success proves that, despite the prevailing sense of gloom about the economy, this region is more than capable of producing talented people who are able to thrive when given the right help and support.”