Appia

Mobile App Advertisingappia.com

Appia is a privately held mobile user acquisition network, founded in 2008 in Durham, NC, that delivers app downloads to a global advertiser base. The 51–100 employee company has expanded through acquisitions of Handango (2010) and BroadRiver Communication (2015).

Company typePublic
Founded2012
HeadquartersDurham, United States
Headcount51–100
GTM typeB2B
OfferingSoftware

What Appia does

Appia is a mobile user acquisition network founded in 2008 and headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. The company's stated function is delivering mobile app downloads to a global audience, operating a network that connects advertisers seeking user acquisition with mobile consumers across app ecosystems. The company operates with 51–100 employees and is privately held.

Over its operating history Appia has pursued a strategy of vertical and horizontal expansion through acquisition: in 2010 it acquired Handango, a mobile app marketplace, extending its position in mobile app distribution; and in 2015 it acquired BroadRiver Communication Corporation, broadening the platform into adjacent communications and monetization services. The business model is consistent with performance-based mobile advertising, monetizing app installs delivered to advertiser clients.

Appia has raised approximately $39.5 million in disclosed financing across multiple venture and debt rounds between 2008 and 2018, with investors including Noro-Moseley Partners, Wakefield Group, Trident Capital, Relay Ventures, TomorrowVentures, Venrock, North Atlantic Capital, Silicon Valley Bank, DCM Ventures, and the National Science Foundation. The most recent disclosed capital event is a 2018 NSF grant. Leadership disclosed in the data is limited to three vice presidents covering North American business development, advertising operations, and finance/controllership, consistent with a mid-sized B2B ad-tech sales organization.

Appia firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Appia
Legal name: Digital Turbine, Inc.
Website: https://appia.com
Company type: Public
Founded year: 2012
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 51–100 employees
Short description: Appia is a privately held mobile user acquisition network, founded in 2008 in Durham, NC, that delivers app downloads to a global advertiser base. The 51–100 employee company has expanded through acquisitions of Handango (2010) and BroadRiver Communication (2015).
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Appia industry classification

Industry

Product category: Mobile App Advertising
NAICS: Advertising Agencies (54181)
SIC: Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
akta.pro primary industry: Mobile App Stores & Marketplaces (BPAMADAA)
akta.pro secondary industry: API Analytics, Monetization & Developer Experience Tooling (HDAEAIAJ)

Keywords

Mobile user acquisition
App install advertising
Mobile app distribution
App download network
Mobile marketing platform

Where Appia is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Durham
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Markets served

Appia business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Software
Cost components: Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

Advertising Revenue: DT generates advertising revenue by connecting advertisers seeking user acquisition and brand awareness with its network of SDK-integrated apps and exclusive device placements. The platform operates on a performance basis, delivering measurable outcomes across the full advertising funnel.
App Distribution and Monetization: Revenue from app developers and publishers who use DT's distribution solutions (Launchpad) to acquire users and monetization solutions (DT Ads) to maximize revenue from their inventory without compromising user experience.
Device Partnership Revenue: Revenue from device partners (OEMs and operators) by creating engaging on-device experiences that drive app discovery and monetization throughout the device lifecycle, monetizing with premium advertiser demand.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Appia product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Appia is a mobile user acquisition network that delivers mobile app downloads to an extensive audience worldwide. The company connects app developers, advertisers, and device partners through a unified mobile growth platform that includes app distribution (DT Launchpad), full-funnel advertising (DT Ads), and on-device engagement (DT Ignite), all powered by the AI-driven DT iQ intelligence engine.

Product overview

Digital Turbine operates as a unified mobile growth platform consisting of three integrated products: DT Launchpad for app distribution via traditional and alternative pathways including SingleTap installs; DT Ads for full funnel advertising and publisher monetization; and DT Ignite for device engagement and lifecycle monetization. All solutions are powered by the DT iQ AI intelligence engine, enabling predictive analytics, recommendation, and optimization capabilities across 82K+ SDK-integrated apps and 1B+ devices reaching 3B users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

DT Launchpad: App growth platform enabling distribution through traditional and alternative pathways including SingleTap seamless installs bypassing app stores
DT Ads
DT Ignite
DT iQ

Products and services

DT Launchpad App distribution platform enabling app growth via seamless installs through traditional app stores and emerging alternative distribution pathways, including SingleTap technology for frictionless installs bypassing the app store. Designed for mobile app developers and publishers seeking diversified distribution beyond traditional app stores.
DT Ads Full-funnel advertising platform enabling advertisers to reach users across 82K+ SDK-integrated apps and exclusive placements on 1B+ devices. Lets advertisers achieve full funnel objectives while publishers maximize inventory value without compromising user experience, optimized through the AI-powered DT iQ engine.
DT Ignite Device engagement and monetization solution that surfaces relevant apps and content at the right moments across the device lifecycle. Creates engaging consumer touchpoints and generates new revenue streams through premium advertiser demand, powered by the DT iQ optimization engine.
DT iQ AI-powered intelligence engine that optimizes advertising outcomes across the full funnel and drives relevant app and content discovery using proprietary on-device and in-app signals. Powers predictive analytics, recommendation, and optimization capabilities across DT Ads and DT Ignite.

Companies that use Appia

Customer profile

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Appia technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Appia partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

SamsungcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSamsung is a key device OEM partner providing DT with exclusive on-device placements on Samsung devices, enabling app discovery and monetization experiences throughout the device lifecycle.
VerizoncoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerVerizon is a carrier partner enabling DT's mobile advertising and app distribution solutions to reach users on the Verizon network through exclusive device placements.
MotorolacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMotorola is a device OEM partner pre-loading DT solutions on Motorola devices, enabling on-device app discovery and monetization experiences.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Appia competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Digital Turbine: Operates a unified mobile growth platform connecting advertisers, developers, and device partners through SDK integrations and OEM placements — the most direct head-to-head competitor to Appia in mobile UA and app distribution.
AppLovin: Mobile ad-tech platform offering UA and monetization solutions for app developers across global supply; competes directly with Appia for advertiser and developer budgets.
ironSource: App monetization and UA platform (now part of Unity) that provides SDK-based mediation and ad delivery — a comparable mobile UA network model with similar developer/integrator relationships.
Liftoff: Mobile UA and retargeting platform focused on app subscriptions and user acquisition at scale; competes for the same advertiser demand and developer supply.
InMobi: Global mobile advertising and programmatic platform with UA and app monetization offerings — directly comparable business model and target customer base to Appia.
Tapjoy: Mobile ad network specializing in rewarded video and value-exchange advertising for app developers — a comparable UA network serving app publishers.
Chartboost: Mobile gaming ad network and mediation platform providing UA and monetization for app developers — directly competes with Appia in app install and engagement campaigns.
Vungle: Mobile ad network focused on in-app video advertising and UA — operates a comparable ad-network business model targeting app developers and advertisers.
Fyber: Mobile app monetization platform offering programmatic mediation and UA solutions; now part of Digital Turbine but operates in the same product category as Appia.

Broad incumbents

Unity Ads: Mobile ad network bundled within Unity's broader game engine ecosystem — a broader incumbent that competes in mobile UA while also providing development tools upstream of Appia's customer base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Appia financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Appia leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Appia funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Appia M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Appia

What does Appia do?

Is Appia a public or private company?

Appia is a public company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.

When was Appia founded?

Appia was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.

Where is Appia based?

Appia is headquartered in Durham, United States, in the North America region.

How does Appia make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Advertising Revenue is the primary driver. The others are app Distribution and Monetization and device Partnership Revenue.

Who are Appia's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Digital Turbine, AppLovin, ironSource, Liftoff, InMobi, Tapjoy, Chartboost, Vungle and Fyber. Unity Ads is listed as a broad incumbent.

Does Appia have an API?

No public API is recorded for Appia.

What industry is Appia in?

Appia's product category is Mobile App Advertising. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMADAA, Mobile App Stores & Marketplaces, with a secondary code of HDAEAIAJ, API Analytics, Monetization & Developer Experience Tooling. Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7310.