What Appetizer Mobile does

Appetizer Mobile is a New York City-based mobile application development, consulting, and marketing agency founded in 2009 by Jordan Edelson. The firm operates a full-service model spanning industry consulting, strategic branding, innovative design, top-level development, effective marketing, and startup partnerships. Technical capabilities cover iOS, Android, Unity 3D, Windows, WordPress, HTML5, and Xamarin, with specialized practices in VR/AR/XR development (HoloLens, Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Rift), AI-based systems, Apple TV apps, and wearable applications. The company has designed and developed more than 150 apps for clients including FOX Broadcasting, Sony Music, Universal Music Group, Interscope Records, Epic Records, NBA Properties, ZocDoc, Montessorium, and celebrity engagements with Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga.

The company generates revenue primarily through four professional-services streams: Mobile App Development Services, Strategic Consulting, Branding and Marketing Services, and Startup Partnership Services (which includes CTO-as-a-service and investor-deck creation). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, delivered through a direct enterprise sales motion with dedicated sales representatives. In parallel, the firm operates an internal product lab (Appetizer Mobile Lab) that produces proprietary consumer applications — including Chic Sketch (AI fashion sketching), Shuv (VoIP communication with patented Ring Forward technology), Portalball (AR baseball game), Dim (infinite maze game), Streeem (celebrity video platform), Epproachable (dating app), and Mighty Tops (mobile game) — distributed via iOS App Store and Google Play.

The business operates from two U.S. offices: headquarters at 535 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and a secondary office in Miami, Florida, with stated plans for further geographic expansion. Founder Jordan Edelson remains CEO and primary owner; the firm is privately held with no institutional investment or parent company. The company's founder was recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30, and Appetizer Mobile has been named one of the Top 10 Mobile App Developers in the U.S. for five consecutive years, in addition to being featured in Apple iPad TV commercials and the 2013 Apple iPad national billboard campaign. Last disclosed revenue was just under $10 million (2015 founder interview).

Name

Appetizer Mobile

Legal name

Appetizer Mobile LLC

Website

https://appetizermobile.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Appetizer Mobile is a New York-based mobile app development agency founded in 2009 that designs iOS, Android, AR/VR, and AI-powered applications for brands, celebrities, sports teams, and startups, while building proprietary consumer apps through its internal product lab.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile App Development Services

NAICS

Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Application Development (Web/Mobile/Desktop) (BPAEAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores (BPAMAKAB), Device & App Lifecycle Management (Build, QA, Release, A/B Testing) (MPAHAJAE)

Keywords

• Mobile app development
• IOS Android development
• AR VR development
• App design services
• Mobile app consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mobile App Development Services: Full-service mobile application development for iOS, Android, Unity 3D, and other platforms. Includes consultation, design, development, and app store submission services.
2. Strategic Consulting: Industry consulting services guiding clients through mobile application ideation, design, business modeling, and marketing strategy.
3. Branding and Marketing Services: Strategic branding and marketing services including brand identity creation, social media voice designation, and launch strategy planning.
4. Startup Partnership Services: CTO services for startups including investor deck creation and matching with major brands, athletes, and celebrities for sponsorship opportunities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Appetizer Mobile is a full-service mobile app development agency providing consultation, design, development, and marketing services for iOS, Android, Unity 3D, Windows, WordPress, HTML5, and Xamarin platforms. The company operates a professional services business for brands, celebrities, sports teams, and startups, while also running an internal product lab (Appetizer Mobile Lab) that develops proprietary consumer apps such as Chic Sketch, Shuv, Portalball, and Dim.

Product overview

Appetizer Mobile is an award-winning mobile app development agency based in New York City offering comprehensive design, development, and marketing services. The company operates both client services (building custom apps for brands) and an internal product lab (Appetizer Mobile Lab) that develops proprietary apps. The product portfolio includes flagship internal products like Chic Sketch (AI-powered fashion sketching app), Shuv (VoIP communication app with custom ringtones), Portalball (AR baseball game), Dim (infinite maze game), and Streeem (celebrity video content platform), as well as client projects including the FOX partnership Mask Yourself App, SOGO deal-spotting platform, and Grand Slam Trivia. Services span iOS, Android, Unity 3D, Windows, WordPress, HTML5, and Xamarin development, with specializations in augmented reality, virtual reality, wearable technology, and Apple TV apps.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Chic Sketch: Fashion app that turns user photos into custom fashion sketches drawn by real fashion illustrators.
• Portalball
• Shuv
• dïm
• Streeem
• Epproachable
• Mighty Tops

Products and services

• Mobile App Development Services End-to-end mobile application development service covering consultation, design, development, app store submission, and marketing. Supports iOS, Android, Unity 3D, Windows, WordPress, HTML5, and Xamarin, with specialization in AR/VR experiences, wearable apps, Apple TV apps, and AI integration. Sold to enterprise clients, celebrities, sports teams, and startups.
• Industry Consulting Consulting engagement advising clients on the best pathways to take an app concept to market and reach an optimal audience.
• Strategic Branding Branding service that creates a cohesive design layout merging a brand's multiple properties for users to traverse multiple platforms, including brand identity creation and social media voice designation.
• Innovative Design UI/UX design service producing intuitive designs that enhance end user experience during the app development process.
• Effective Marketing Marketing service that builds launch strategies and audience reach plans leveraging the app's niche to maximize consumer adoption.
• Start-up Partnerships Engagement offering CTO services for startups, including investor deck creation and matching with major brands, athletes, and celebrities for sponsorship opportunities.
• Chic Sketch Fashion-focused mobile app that transforms user-uploaded outfit photos into custom fashion sketches drawn by real fashion illustrators, powered by AI-based technology. Available on iOS and Android.
• Shuv Free communication app featuring patented Ring Forward technology that allows users to choose custom ringtones heard by the person they call or send pictures to. Includes VoIP calling with 256-bit AES encryption.
• Portalball World's first augmented reality sci-fi baseball game. Uses device camera to spawn 360-degree AR portals for playing baseball in augmented reality. Available on iOS and Android.
• Dim (dïm) Infinite maze puzzle game with time-based challenges where players navigate increasingly complex mazes before the lights dim out, with competitive leaderboards. Available on iOS.
• Mask Yourself App AI-powered mobile app (powered by Chic Sketch) in partnership with FOX Broadcasting for The Masked Singer Season 5. Allows users to upload photos and receive automated sketches as show characters. Available on iOS and Android.
• SOGO (Share One Get One) iOS mobile application for deal spotfinding. Users share snapshots of sales near their location and brands/retailers reach customers on a hyperlocal level.
• Grand Slam Trivia Baseball trivia game developed with Joe Girardi featuring fast-paced trivia gameplay with thousands of questions and competitive mode. Available on iOS and Android.
• Streeem Platform providing longer exclusive video content from celebrities, allowing entertainers and creators to monetize posts through premium content subscriptions.
• Epproachable Dating app that addresses the conversation-starter problem by allowing users to post their own conversation starters, with location-based matching and check-in verification.
• Mighty Tops Third-person mobile game featuring AI toy factory with spinning tops. Includes 2D/3D modeling, custom characters with weapons, and branded advertising opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Featured in Apple iPad TV commercials
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FOX Broadcasting CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with FOX to launch the Mask Yourself App powered by Chic Sketch. Appetizer Mobile and Chic Sketch worked with FOX to create an AI-based sketching system for The Masked Singer Season 5. The platform allows users to upload photos and receive AI-generated sketches of costumes from the show.
• Sony MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitial partnership with Sony Music for Shuv app premiere at Sony Wonder Technology Lab. This high-profile launch generated a high level of downloads, user engagement and attention from the industry.
• Joe GirardicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with former Yankees manager Joe Girardi to create Portalball - the world's first augmented reality sci-fi baseball game. Launch event held at Modell's Sporting Goods in Times Square with media presence including Hot97, ABC7, FOX5, and USA Today.
• Chic SketchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chic Sketch to develop the AI-based fashion sketching app. Chic Sketch was named 'One of today's most interesting fashion apps' by Vogue España and serves clients including Sephora, Swarovski, Cartier, L'OREAL, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdales.
• Clover Dog LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Clover Dog LLC to develop Mighty Tops - a third-person mobile game featuring AI toys equipped with weapons. Marketing materials and investor deck created for investor outreach.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Blue Label Labs: NYC-based mobile app development agency offering end-to-end design, development, and strategy. Comparable in scale, geography, and service offering to Appetizer Mobile's enterprise agency model.
• WillowTree: Large U.S.-based digital product agency specializing in custom mobile app development for enterprise and consumer brands. Directly comparable as a full-service mobile app design, development, and strategy agency serving Fortune 500 clients.
• Y Media Labs (YML): Digital innovation agency specializing in mobile app development, design, and emerging tech (AI, AR/VR) for Fortune 500 brands. Comparable as a larger, similarly positioned mobile-first agency.
• Savvy Apps: Award-winning mobile app design and development agency for iOS, Android, and emerging platforms. Comparable as a U.S. agency of similar scale with a focus on polished, consumer-facing apps.
• Appster: Mobile app development agency with design and development services across iOS, Android, and emerging platforms. Comparable in core service offering and target mid-market to enterprise clients.
• Dom & Tom: Full-service digital product agency offering mobile app and web development, design, and strategy. Comparable as a U.S. agency of similar scale serving enterprise clients with custom application builds.
• Fueled: New York-based mobile app development agency offering strategy, design, and development for startups and enterprises. Directly comparable as a premium boutique agency competing for similar brand and celebrity clients.
• ArcTouch: Mobile app and connected device development agency known for AI, IoT, and AR/VR work. Comparable in its focus on emerging technologies and cross-platform mobile expertise.

Broad incumbents

• Rightpoint: Larger digital experience agency offering mobile app development alongside broader enterprise consulting, design, and technology services. Comparable as a scaled competitor in the same mobile/digital agency space.

Emerging players

• CitizenNet (now part of Team Alpha): Digital marketing and advertising technology company with overlap in celebrity/entertainment-focused brand campaigns. Comparable as an adjacent player in the celebrity-driven brand engagement space Appetizer Mobile targets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AppetizerMobile
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/appetizer-mobile-llc
• Facebookfacebook.com/appetizermobile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Appetizer Mobile