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Chomp

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uuid0006lqm

Namestring
Chomp
Legal namestring
Apple Inc.
Websiteurl
chomp.com
Company typeenum
Public
Founded yearint
1976
Descriptiontext

Chomp is a private, application search platform headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2009, the company provides information on the functionalities of various applications, positioning itself as a discovery and search service that helps users identify apps based on what they do rather than relying solely on keyword-based app store browsing. The product surface is consumer-facing, addressing a horizontal need for app discovery across mobile and computing environments.

The company's underlying technology is described at a high level as an application search platform; the input data does not disclose specific architecture, proprietary algorithms, data assets, or integration details. No partnerships, certifications, patents, or named enterprise customers are documented. The business model is not explicitly disclosed in the source material: no pricing models, monetization mechanics (e.g., advertising, affiliate, subscription, licensing), or revenue figures are provided. Customer acquisition channels and distribution mechanisms are also not detailed in the available data.

Capital structure reflects an early-stage venture profile. Chomp has raised approximately $2.565 million across disclosed rounds between November 2009 and December 2014, with investors including BlueRun Ventures, SV Angel, and Felicis. The company operates with a small team of 11-50 employees and maintains a web presence at chomp.com. The input data contains extensive content describing Apple Inc. products and services under Chomp's record, which appears to be a data-attribution artifact rather than information about Chomp itself; this analysis is therefore grounded only in the firmographic and funding data directly describing Chomp.

Short descriptiontext

Chomp is a San Francisco-based application search platform founded in 2009 that provides information on the functionalities of various applications, helping consumers discover apps based on what they do.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
HQ citystring
San Francisco
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
app search platform, mobile app discovery, application indexing, app recommendation engine, software search service
Industry2 codes
1Enterprise Search, Indexing & Content Discovery
CodeHDAEAGAHPrimaryYes
2POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms
CodeBPAMANADPrimaryNo
NAICS code1 code
  • Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services51929
SIC code1 code
  • Services-Prepackaged Software7372
Product category
Mobile App Search and Discovery
Social media profiles1 record
Marketing channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components4 values
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeSoftware
Software
Brand1 of 15 records shown
1Apple One
Description

Bundle service including Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, and Apple Fitness+

apple.com
+14 more records
Core offering1 text field

Chomp is an application search platform that provides information on the functionalities of various applications, enabling users to discover mobile apps based on features and capabilities. The platform indexes app metadata and supports functionality-oriented search queries across mobile ecosystems. It operates as a consumer-facing discovery tool for individuals seeking applications matched to specific use cases.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product overview1 text field

Apple offers a unified ecosystem of hardware products and services. Core hardware includes the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (now featuring M5 chip family), iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro smartphones, iPad Air tablet, AirPods Pro 3 wireless earbuds, and Apple Watch Series 11 smartwatch. Supporting services include Apple Trade In (trade-in program), Apple Card (credit card), Apple TV (streaming with live sports), Apple Music (music streaming), Apple Fitness+ (fitness content), and Apple Arcade (gaming subscription). The products and services interconnect through the broader Apple ecosystem including iOS, iCloud, Apple Pay, and the App Store.

Product and service1 record
1Chomp Application Search Platform
CategoryMobile app discovery and search
Description

A consumer-facing application search and discovery platform that provides information on the functionalities of various mobile applications, enabling users to find apps that match specific feature requirements rather than relying solely on keyword or category searches.

Recent move3 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Peers10 records
TypeEmerging player
Description

Was a search engine specifically for mobile apps, indexing app functionality across stores — a near-exact product parallel to Chomp before its pivot/wind-down.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

The dominant iOS app distribution platform with first-party search and discovery. Directly comparable to Chomp as a destination for users seeking apps, but operating at platform scale with full distribution control.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

The leading Android app store, providing native app search and discovery across the Android ecosystem. Competes with Chomp's value proposition on the largest mobile platform by global reach.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Android-focused third-party app discovery platform offering search, rankings, and install tracking. Closest direct comparable to Chomp in operating model and target user.

TypeDirect peer
Description

Curated iOS app discovery and review site with search, recommendations, and editorial content. Comparable to Chomp's content-and-search-driven discovery model.

TypeDirect peer
Description

App price-tracking and discovery service across iOS, with a search and ranking interface similar to Chomp's product surface area.

TypeEmerging player
Description

App intelligence and market research platform providing discovery data, download estimates, and competitive benchmarks. Adjacent to Chomp with broader analytics focus.

TypeEmerging player
Description

App analytics and intelligence platform serving developers with ranking, search, and market data. Comparable as a B2B app discovery/intelligence peer.

TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Market-leading mobile app intelligence and analytics platform with discovery, ranking, and audience insights. Larger, established comparable in app data and discovery.

TypeEmerging player
Description

App market intelligence and discovery platform providing search, revenue estimates, and publisher analytics — adjacent to Chomp's discovery thesis on the B2B side.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses3 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat2 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds4 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors3 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

Chomp

Mobile App Search and Discoverychomp.com

Chomp is a San Francisco-based application search platform founded in 2009 that provides information on the functionalities of various applications, helping consumers discover apps based on what they do.

What Chomp does

Chomp is a private, application search platform headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2009, the company provides information on the functionalities of various applications, positioning itself as a discovery and search service that helps users identify apps based on what they do rather than relying solely on keyword-based app store browsing. The product surface is consumer-facing, addressing a horizontal need for app discovery across mobile and computing environments.

The company's underlying technology is described at a high level as an application search platform; the input data does not disclose specific architecture, proprietary algorithms, data assets, or integration details. No partnerships, certifications, patents, or named enterprise customers are documented. The business model is not explicitly disclosed in the source material: no pricing models, monetization mechanics (e.g., advertising, affiliate, subscription, licensing), or revenue figures are provided. Customer acquisition channels and distribution mechanisms are also not detailed in the available data.

Capital structure reflects an early-stage venture profile. Chomp has raised approximately $2.565 million across disclosed rounds between November 2009 and December 2014, with investors including BlueRun Ventures, SV Angel, and Felicis. The company operates with a small team of 11-50 employees and maintains a web presence at chomp.com. The input data contains extensive content describing Apple Inc. products and services under Chomp's record, which appears to be a data-attribution artifact rather than information about Chomp itself; this analysis is therefore grounded only in the firmographic and funding data directly describing Chomp.

Chomp firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Chomp
Legal name
Apple Inc.
Website
https://chomp.com
Company type
Public
Founded year
1976
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Short description
Chomp is a San Francisco-based application search platform founded in 2009 that provides information on the functionalities of various applications, helping consumers discover apps based on what they do.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Chomp industry classification

Industry
Product category
Mobile App Search and Discovery
NAICS
Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)
SIC
Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
akta.pro primary industry
Enterprise Search, Indexing & Content Discovery (HDAEAGAH)
akta.pro secondary industry
POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms (BPAMANAD)

Keywords

  • App search platform
  • Mobile app discovery
  • Application indexing
  • App recommendation engine
  • Software search service

Where Chomp is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
San Francisco
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Markets served

Chomp business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Software
Cost components
Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Chomp product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Chomp is an application search platform that provides information on the functionalities of various applications, enabling users to discover mobile apps based on features and capabilities. The platform indexes app metadata and supports functionality-oriented search queries across mobile ecosystems. It operates as a consumer-facing discovery tool for individuals seeking applications matched to specific use cases.

Product overview

Apple offers a unified ecosystem of hardware products and services. Core hardware includes the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro (now featuring M5 chip family), iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro smartphones, iPad Air tablet, AirPods Pro 3 wireless earbuds, and Apple Watch Series 11 smartwatch. Supporting services include Apple Trade In (trade-in program), Apple Card (credit card), Apple TV (streaming with live sports), Apple Music (music streaming), Apple Fitness+ (fitness content), and Apple Arcade (gaming subscription). The products and services interconnect through the broader Apple ecosystem including iOS, iCloud, Apple Pay, and the App Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

  • Apple One: Bundle service including Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, and Apple Fitness+
  • Apple Card
  • Apple Pay
  • Apple Trade In
  • Apple Wallet
  • Apple Cash
  • Apple Fitness+
  • Apple Music
  • Apple TV+
  • Apple Arcade
  • Apple News+
  • Apple Books
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Apple Vision Pro
  • iCloud

Products and services

  • Chomp Application Search Platform A consumer-facing application search and discovery platform that provides information on the functionalities of various mobile applications, enabling users to find apps that match specific feature requirements rather than relying solely on keyword or category searches.

Companies that use Chomp

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Chomp technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Chomp partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Recent moves3 records

Chomp competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Emerging players

  • Quixey: Was a search engine specifically for mobile apps, indexing app functionality across stores — a near-exact product parallel to Chomp before its pivot/wind-down.
  • Sensor Tower: App intelligence and market research platform providing discovery data, download estimates, and competitive benchmarks. Adjacent to Chomp with broader analytics focus.
  • AppFigures: App analytics and intelligence platform serving developers with ranking, search, and market data. Comparable as a B2B app discovery/intelligence peer.
  • AppMagic: App market intelligence and discovery platform providing search, revenue estimates, and publisher analytics — adjacent to Chomp's discovery thesis on the B2B side.

Broad incumbents

  • Apple App Store: The dominant iOS app distribution platform with first-party search and discovery. Directly comparable to Chomp as a destination for users seeking apps, but operating at platform scale with full distribution control.
  • Google Play: The leading Android app store, providing native app search and discovery across the Android ecosystem. Competes with Chomp's value proposition on the largest mobile platform by global reach.
  • data.ai (formerly App Annie): Market-leading mobile app intelligence and analytics platform with discovery, ranking, and audience insights. Larger, established comparable in app data and discovery.

Direct peers

  • AppBrain: Android-focused third-party app discovery platform offering search, rankings, and install tracking. Closest direct comparable to Chomp in operating model and target user.
  • AppAdvice: Curated iOS app discovery and review site with search, recommendations, and editorial content. Comparable to Chomp's content-and-search-driven discovery model.
  • AppShopper: App price-tracking and discovery service across iOS, with a search and ranking interface similar to Chomp's product surface area.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

Chomp social profiles

Digital presence

Chomp financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Chomp leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Chomp funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

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

Chomp M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Chomp

What does Chomp do?

Chomp is an application search platform that provides information on the functionalities of various applications, enabling users to discover mobile apps based on features and capabilities. The platform indexes app metadata and supports functionality-oriented search queries across mobile ecosystems. It operates as a consumer-facing discovery tool for individuals seeking applications matched to specific use cases.

Is Chomp a public or private company?

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

When was Chomp founded?

Chomp was founded in 1976. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Chomp based?

Chomp is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.

Who are Chomp's main competitors?

Emerging players on record are Quixey, Sensor Tower, AppFigures and AppMagic. Broad incumbents are Apple App Store, Google Play and data.ai (formerly App Annie). Direct peers are AppBrain, AppAdvice and AppShopper.

Does Chomp have an API?

No public API is recorded for Chomp.

What industry is Chomp in?

Chomp's product category is Mobile App Search and Discovery. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAGAH, Enterprise Search, Indexing & Content Discovery, with a secondary code of BPAMANAD, POI, Local Listings & Business Directory Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51929 and its SIC code is 7372.

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Live signals
TechCrunchCathy Edwards, Co-Founder Of Chomp, Is Leaving Apple On April 11Cathy Edwards, co-founder of Chomp and Apple's Director of Evaluation and Quality for Maps, is leaving the company on April 11. Her departure follows Apple's 2012 acquisition of Chomp for $50 million, which integrated her expertise into Apple's core search and mapping infrastructure. She plans to take time off before making her next move in Silicon Valley.TechCrunchWith New iOS 6 App Store, The Most Important Changes Are Under The HoodApple's mobile operating system, iOS 6, introduces a revamped App Store featuring a new user interface and the addition of a 'Genius' app recommendation section. The integration of technology from Apple's acquisition of Chomp is set to impact app rankings significantly, as it utilizes new algorithms alongside social signals for app visibility. As iOS 6 launches, changes in user behavior and search patterns are expected to challenge developers in optimizing their applications.TechCrunchChomp-Inspired iOS 6 App Store Redesign Could Impact Long Tail Of App DevelopersApple has integrated features from its 2012 acquisition of mobile app search platform Chomp into the redesigned iOS 6 App Store, introducing swipeable cards for browsing apps instead of traditional lists. The change could significantly affect smaller iOS developers, as the estimated 650,000+ apps in the store face either reduced discoverability for those buried deeper in card views or improved visibility through enhanced search and Genius recommendations. The update is still in beta, so final implementation details may change before release.Business InsiderCHART: Search Is The Biggest Driver Of App DiscoverySearch is the top app discovery tool, with Nielsen data showing 63% of Android and iOS users use it to find new apps. This growing importance in the long tail of apps explains Apple's acquisition of Chomp to revamp App Store search.TechCrunchOh, Hey Google: Chomp Launches Its Own AdWords For App Search; Brings Realtime Search To iPhoneChomp, an app search engine, has launched "Chomp Search Ads" in private beta, an auction-based advertising platform allowing developers to bid on keywords to display their app ads to relevant users within the app search engine. The platform, which mirrors Google AdWords functionality, charges developers only when users click through via a "Get It" button and provides campaign analytics. The company is also unveiling a redesigned iPhone app with realtime search functionality that displays results automatically as users type, featuring trending search suggestions and large app cards.TechCrunchChomp To Begin Powering App Search For Android Phones Via Verizon AppsChomp, a startup specializing in app search technology, is expanding its partnership with Verizon to power app search functionality on Verizon's Android phones through Verizon Apps. The integration will allow users to search for apps by both name and functional description (e.g., "kid's games" or "expense trackers"), leveraging Chomp's proprietary algorithm that aggregates descriptions from multiple sources including app marketplaces, Twitter, Facebook, and blogs. The company spent over two years developing this technology, for which it has applied for 11 patents, and the feature will roll out on Android smartphones released later this fall.TechCrunchChomp Brings Cross-Platform App Search To Android With Verizon's V Cast IntegrationChomp, an app search engine, has partnered with Verizon Wireless to integrate its search technology into the V Cast mobile app marketplace, enabling customers to search for apps across multiple storefronts including Google's Android Marketplace. The partnership allows Chomp to display the lowest-priced version when the same app is available at different prices across different marketplaces. Chomp CEO Ben Keighran called cross-store search a 'milestone' for the app and the broader Android ecosystem, with the company planning to expand to Amazon's Android App Store next.TechCrunchChomp Sinks Its Teeth Deeper Into Search; Wants To Be The Google Of AppsChomp has launched a completely revamped semantic search engine for apps that goes beyond simple title searches by leveraging its database of 50 million user-generated recommendations to provide more personalized app discovery. The startup currently has over 400,000 active users and generates revenue through affiliate fees from Apple for app purchases made through its platform. Chomp plans to expand beyond iPhone apps to Android and iPad, with a goal of reaching 10 million users by the end of next year and building a sponsored search business at scale.TechCrunchChomp Eats Up Some Seed Funding. Next, Will Bite Into The Mobile Space.Chomp, a stealth mobile startup founded by Ben Keighran (who previously created mobile messaging app Bluepulse), has raised a seed round of approximately $500,000–$550,000 in just 10 days from Ron Conway and other angel investors. The company has no public website yet and is keeping details under wraps until early next year, though Keighran describes it as a "BIG mobile play." The speed of the fundraising despite the secrecy suggests investors saw strong potential in the undisclosed concept.