<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Google announced its new pilot initiative entitled Google Gadget Ventures, which is an ecosystem of sorts formed around gadgets.\nThe Google Gadget Ventures will offer third-party gadget development and business funding in the form of grants and seed investments.  The grants will be $5,000 each, and will go to developers who've created gadgets already in the Google directory, and get at least 250,000 weekly page views.  $100,000 is set aside for seed investments to previous Google Gadget Ventures grant recipients that would like to create a business around the Gadget platform.  Those applying for investment will need to submit a business plan.\nWhat's interesting about this initiative is the parallels it holds with the Facebook Platform, with additional incentivization towards not only the creation of a gadget, but the ongoing success of it as well.  This is an opportunity for Google to take advantage of the developer community in offering more options and features to the end user, integrate feature-rich gadgets that appeal to niche audiences, and enhance the overall experience of several Google features, including maps.  There's a ton of potential in what Google is doing towards the evolution of gadgets, and this initiative only spurs the movement forward."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2007/06/27/google-gadgets-ventures/>