Twenty-four companies will now work in small groups with senior subject experts, in both children's content and technology, to learn more about working with the BBC and develop their ideas at intensive workshop days.
The best ideas will then go forward towards the final commissioning selection process. The BBC expects around four final projects will be commissioned from the £500,000 pot for CBBC and Cbeebies.
Peter Salmon BBC Director North said: "I am very encouraged by the level of interest we have had in the @North initiative with over 100 companies formally applying.
"This is a new way of working for us and, as well as more detailed work with the companies we are announcing today, we intend to stay in contact with all the companies who have expressed interest in relation to future opportunities."
Adrian Mills, leading the project on behalf of BBC Children's, said "This new development process is about bringing people, technology and creativity together. We are excited to be working with the successful companies across the North to help develop bold ideas into fresh new content for our online users and audiences."
Alice Morrison, chief executive of Northwest Vision and Media, said "We are proud to see that 24 companies from our region have been selected for @North, an initiative, which we believe offers creative and digital businesses real opportunities for business expansion and growth."