Metaps began as an app monetization service offering an SDK to help developers incorporate in-app offers and increase revenues. The company has shifted toward big data and machine-learning, analyzing user behavior to automate and optimize app marketing and broader business decisions. It says its SDK reach covers more than 100 million users and apps that have been downloaded over 1.2 billion times, and it serves “thousands” of app developer customers on Android and iOS. Metaps has also launched a PayPal‑style payments product called Spike, which is transaction fee‑free and has more than 50,000 registered users in Japan. The company plans to use new funding to aggressively hire AI experts, invest in research, expand Spike beyond online payments, and broaden analytics services to other smart devices and business types. CEO Katsuaki Sato has described a long-term vision of offering analytics-driven monetization support across industries and device categories. Metaps offers an SDK for Android developers that enables in-app offers and tasks to boost user engagement, increase app downloads, and raise ad revenue for free-to-download apps. The platform encourages users to complete actions (inviting friends, downloading apps) to earn virtual currency that can be spent within apps. Customers listed on its site include Zynga, Baidu and Happy Elements, with games the strongest category. Since launching its SDK in August 2011, apps integrating Metaps have been downloaded 62 million times as of February 2013, and the company says it is the largest app monetization network in Asia. Metaps reports a 60% average monthly growth and that its revenue has grown more than 175 times over one year. It plans to use new funding to expand further across Asia and into other countries and to hire additional staff. Metaps operates the "metaps" reward ad network for smartphones, enabling low‑risk CPI promotions alongside ongoing reward‑ad revenue for app developers. The platform provides a one‑stop service that helps developers boost traffic and monetize apps and, via partnerships, can promote apps in over 25 countries. Metaps completed a US$5.5M Series A round (including an additional US$1.3M allocation) and is using the financing to support expansion. Proceeds are planned for hiring at its Singapore subsidiary and to expand market share globally with a focus on Asia. The company plans to establish representative offices in China, the United States, and Europe within six months to improve coordination with developers and partners. Metaps aims to become the number one monetization platform in Asia within the year and is aggressively targeting global growth from its Asian base.

Total raised

$48M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series C

Latest activity

Feb 2015