Cogwork Studios
Founders
Simon Havil and Rob McCarthy.
Profile
We met at Bradford University and both graduated in 2005 with degrees in interactive systems and video game design. From there we moved into mobile phone games testing and then into the design side. In 2008 we took up positions with Player One, a publisher of sports mobile phone games, progressing to Head of Production and Head of Post Production. By this time we felt we had enough industry experience to set up on our own. We had already come across Think Business and in late 2009, we entered a competition and won a place on the programme and some start-up funds. At the start of 2010, we moved back up to Bradford to join the Think Business Programme. We currently use a team of trusted freelancers, to whom we outsource various aspects of work.
What does your company do?
We develop smart phone and Flash games and applications. For example, earlier this year we were asked to work on a version of a world-leading game application for Windows Live Messenger. We expect the game to launch in the near future.
More recently we were approached to develop a prototype insulin micro pump - a medical device to be worn by diabetes sufferers Through a tiny needle, the discreet electronic device monitors food intake, automatically administering insulin as and when required.
We love helping to create helpful and entertaining applications for SMART phones and on-line social networks but it is our long term aim to specialise in developing devices for the medical sector.
What's been your biggest success?
Creating a world-leading game for Windows Live Messenger and winning a contract with one of the biggest games franchisers in the world.
What's been the hardest thing you've had to cope with?
Many aspects of running a business, including finance, sales and marketing were new to us. Making time to work on the business remains a constant challenge!
What advice would you give other new businesses?
Get some experience working in your industry before setting up on your own. All our work to date has come from people we met in our previous roles.
What has ThinkBusiness@Bradford done to help you?
The office space enabled us to get up and running while the competition prize money allowed to in invest in essential equipment.
We've also made good use of the financial and legal services and specialist business mentoring the programme provided.
As well as all the practical and professional support we've had, being around other young businesses has been invaluable.
What plans do you have for the future of Cogwork Studios?
In the next 12 months we'd like to win several more 'big name' contracts and raise our profile in the UK games and applications industry.
In five years we hope to be well established, with several self-published games and applications under our belts.
In ten years time we both hope have someone else running the business, allowing us time to enjoy the fruits of our labours. With any luck, Rob will be running a micro brewery and making goats cheese while I'll be sailing round the globe on a big yacht!
What would you like to see from ThinkBusiness@Bradford in the future?
I hope the programme will still be around for years to come, with more funding behind it. We've had a great service from Think Business; it's helped us immensely.
