If you asked mobile developers about their major gripes, the conversation would probably boil down to one common conundrum: Once they’re ready to sell their apps, it takes a significant amount of time to research and register those programs in multiple sites. And as a result, they end up posting the app on one store alone. Most often, that means iTunes or Google Play—but the problem is, those major stores tend to be ultra crowded and competitive, meaning it’s more than likely that the app they worked so hard on will get lost in the shuffle. But what if developers could quickly and easily publish their mobile apps to over 50 cross-platform stores across the world? A brand new startup based in Newton, Mass.—appScatter—offers this exact capability, empowering devs to market their apps more intelligently and expand their sales revenues.
CEO Philip Marcella, a British programmer with 25 years experience of writing software in a variety of programing languages, started his first Web development/software business RMR Design Ltd. in 1996, which eventually went public in 2000 with a valuation of $100 million. It was around five years ago, while submitting apps for clients to Apple or Google’s store, that the frustrations with this process became clear.
“The biggest problem was not only to put 100 apps on three or four platforms—but also to download the sales reports every day for each,” he explained in a phone interview with BostInno.
A central database for app store intelligence
AppScatter began as an internal tool where clients could log in and get sales info on their apps, as well as automatically update information on those apps across all stores. The startup has 15 employees currently—10 in the U.S. and five overseas. Much of the core team he worked with Marcella at his previous company are still contributing to appScatter today. The core platform was completed this past February.
"The problem with putting an app into Google Play or Apple’s store is it’s really difficult to get featured—you have to pump a lot of money into getting seen. In an alternative store, you’re 20 times more likely to get seen.”
From the enterprise or independent developer’s side, all they have to do is log into the free system, take an app they’ve already produced, paste in the URL, and hit import. Instantly, appScatter will pull in the descriptions, graphics, etc. into the system. The compatibility counter then checks a number of factors about the app, like whether it’s free or paid, smartphone only or works on a tablet, or has in-app purchasing. Then, appScatter determines how many stores that app hits the criteria for, and automatically pushes it there. Within appScatter, users can review consolidated download, install and sales reports, hourly rankings and reviews. Within the pro and enterprise versions of appScatter (from $10 per month), companies can create customized client dashboards and user roles. New features include the ability to import analytics from providers like App Annie, Google and Flurry; integrate third-party services such as Salesforce, Slack and Atlassian's Jira; and import ad revenue reports from mobile advertising networks.
“The platform is for anyone who wants more visibility, international reach. The problem with putting an app into Google Play or Apple’s store is it’s really difficult to get featured—you have to pump a lot of money into getting seen. In an alternative store, you’re 20 times more likely to get seen.”
Growing the user base
The beta test for appScatter will launch in early August, with a full public launch slated for October. Last August, the company raised $1.25 million from friends, family, and several angel investors. And recently, appScatter launched a private crowdfunding campaign for investors only.
Photo provided by appScatter.
