Framingham, Mass. startup Applause, formerly known as uTest, has raised $43 million to help businesses test their Web, mobile and desktop apps in the hands of real potential customers. The Series E round was led by Goldman Sachs, and had full participation from existing uTest investors, including QuestMark Partners, Scale Venture Partners, Longworth Venture Partners, Mass Ventures, Egan-Managed Capital and Mesco Ltd.
“In-the-wild testing has become a critical part of launching great digital experiences – from apps for web, mobile, wearables and beyond. Funding on this scale, and from a leader like Goldman Sachs, will help us broaden these services, and incorporate tools that enable companies to achieve 360° app quality,” said uTest Co-founder and CEO Doron Reuveni in the release. “We’re positioned for a massive market opportunity, and to extend our lead as the one-stop solution for modern app quality.”
The company’s previous round of funding was a $17 Million Series D round, raised in December 2011. The new round brings the company's total capital raised to $80 million.
Applause will use the new funds to expand and enhance its app testing services and grow distribution channels. In addition, the company will put its former uTest brand to use, and leverage it as an open community that caters to testers and advances the profession of software testing. The uTest offering will expand beyond paid projects to include training, certifications, test tool reviews, career advice, job boards and events, according to the release.
"The first thing we’re doing is expanding the offering to match our new name. We’re moving from a company that does app testing services to one that does 360-degree app quality, whether its Web apps, mobile apps or wearables," uTest CMO Matt Johnston told BostInno in a conversation. "We’re also expanding our footprint. We’re opening international offices and expanding our reseller program into Europe, Asia and the South Pacific...and forming strategic partnerships in application lifecycle management."
The news comes in the wake of the in-the-wild app testing company's announcement of a name change and expanded offerings.
In January 2013, uTest first announced the launch of Applause, a mobile app analytics tool that aims to help app developers learn what specifically users like and don't like about their products. In November, uTest Co-founder and CEO Doron Reuveni then wrote a blog post that the company was fully adopting the name of the in-house innovation "to reflect an expanded vision":
Applause’s mission will be to teach and enable companies to launch apps that win – win new users, earn greater loyalty and beat the competition. This is more than a simple name change; it’s an expanded vision and offering around 360? app quality. That said, nothing is changing for current customers. When the transition is made in the first few months of 2014 our in-the-wild testing services will remain intact and companies will be able to purchase only those parts of our offering that fit their needs.
Applause has made one acquisition to date. In August 2012, the startup, then uTest, bought Apphance, a mobile app quality tool, for a reported seven figures in cash and equity. But that list may not stay so short for long, Johnston noted that the company will be keeping an eye out for acquisitions throughout its expansion – along with new talent in the Boston area.
"While we will be opening international offices and looking at acquisitions that could be anywhere in the world, we’ll really be hiring heavily in our Framingham headquarters and in our Cambridge office in marking, engineering and product management," said CMO Matt Johnston.
Since its launch in 2008, uTest has continued to grow its business, and has established a presence in Silicon Valley, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas. The company has tested more than 30,000 new builds for 2,000 companies of all sizes, including the likes of Google, Microsoft, Amazon, USA Today, Rolex, Box and Runkeeper.
