MobiCart, the free service lets users build a native storefront for Apple’s iOS, has secured a $500,000 seed funding round with participation from the UK’s Finance for Business North East Angel Fund.

The new investment will be used to expand the company’s offering, which will add support for Android in the next eight weeks, with Blackberry and Windows Mobile to come later this year, along with introducing new features to its app builder, including a bar code scanner, virtual coupons, and loyalty schemes.

In addition, MobiCart says it is also developing its own platform and extension marketplace and is working on a web app version of its native app builder, making it accessible to a wider audience.

CEO and founder Wladimir Baranoff-Rossine said: “We’re delighted with the investment, which will enable us to pave the way with our vision for the future of mobile commerce. Within the next decade the whole industry will move to mobile.”