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Apps of All Nations LLC

 

2010 Stevie Award Winner

Company: Apps of All Nations LLC, Lynchburg, VA U.S.A
Company Description: Apps of All Nations LLC is a company that produces educational and international applications for the iPod, iPad and other mobile devices. Founded in 2009 by French native Isabelle Duston, the company has grown immensely in the past year, starting at her kitchen table and expanding to employ a group of ten hard-working, talented and international individuals.
Nomination Category: Company/Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best New Company of the Year

Nomination Title: Apps of All Nations, LLC

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated company during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):

In 2009, Isabelle Duston, French native and mother of three, found herself facing a
tough dilemma. Duston, who had been living in the US for the past decade raising
her young children, wished to divorce her husband. Without a visa, this meant she
would have to uproot her family from their home in Lynchburg, Virginia, and move
them back to France. She decided that in order to remain in the US and support
her family as a newly single mom, she would start her own company and apply for
an Investor Visa. Apps of All Nations LLC(www.appsofallnations.com), a company
that produces international applications for the iPod and iPad, was born on
November 13th, 2009. Since then, Apps of All Nations has successfully launched
a collection of cookbooks (icookingapps.com) in ten different languages. Despite
the fact that the business was started from Duston’s own kitchen table, iCooking
is now one of the number one international cooking applications available. After
the success of iCooking, Duston began producing a collection of animated
interactive children’s books for the iPad (iStoryapps.com). As a mother, Duston
believes it is important for the books being produced to have meaning. As a result,
the company only produces stories that will instill a valuable lesson or
educational tool. As an international company, Apps of All Nations promotes diversity, which
is why iStory is also available in ten different languages. The company has sold
more than 100,000 apps since the beginning of 2010, and currently produces 114
applications in ten different languages. The company is striving toward a
production goal of 200 cooking applications and 80 iStories by the end of the year,
and is currently working on creating cooking applications suitable for the Android
market.

Duston believes that success comes with a great opportunity to give back, and
that business can have meaning; you can be financially successful and not be
materialistic. An entrepreneurial mindset is not geared toward making money, but
toward creating. These ideas are the foundation for Apps of All Nations. By
observing her children play with the iPod touch, Duston realized that mobile device
could be an excellent educational tool. At the same time she became aware of
the exponential development of mobile phones in Africa and other developing
countries. It was then that Duston decided to start a non-profit organization, and
so Apps of all Nations is currently in the process of founding iLearn4Free
(www.iLearn4Free.wordpress.com), an organization supporting education for
underprivileged children in developing nations. Through the use of mobile
technology, children without access to education can use iLearn4free free
applications to learn basic skills such as reading, writing and math in many
languages.

List the URLs (web addresses) of any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that you would like the judges to see that support your entry. IMPORTANT: List each URL on a separate line, begin each URL with http://, and enclose each URL in square brackets. For example, [http://www.yourcompany.com/pressrelease.html]:

Winner of the 2010 Power Women Magazine contest (not yet announced to
public)
http://www.powerwomenmagazine.com

Interview published July 2010 in Upstart Smart
http://www.upstartsmart.com/magazine/one-entrepreneur-on-the-start-isabelle-
duston.html

Article published May 2010 in the News and Advance
http://www2.newsadvance.com/lifestyles/2010/may/11/recipes_in_dutch_theres_
an_app_for_that-ar-162812/

Article published April 2010 in The Independent UK
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/mbas-guide/interview-i-think-the-
spirit-of-entrepreneurism-is-in-my-blood-1938356.html

Nominated for the “Made in ESCP Europe 2010” start-up contest.
http://www.escpeurope.eu/faculty-research/escp-europe-chairs/escp-europe-chair-
for-entrepreneurship-research/chair-for-entrepreneurship-research-made-in-escp-
europe/

A highlight on a business website.
http://getyourbizsavvy.com/2010/08/overcoming-limitations-part-6/

Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the nominated company (up to 100 words):

Isabelle Duston, a French native, lives in Virginia with her three kids. With an
MBA
from ESCP Europe, Duston is fluent in five languages; her internationally diverse
background has inspired her love for travel and a joy of exploring different
cultures.
She believes that cultural differences can be a great drive for creativity, and she
encourages international teamwork. Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs,
Duston is always thinking about her next project. She loves being in the US
because she feels the country supports and encourages the entrepreneurial spirit
within her.

Choose one (even if both apply):

The CEO (or other principal manager) of this company is a woman, and at least 40% of the management team is comprised of women.