TAPP

What TAPP does

TAPP Inc. is a private, invite-only mobile social network platform headquartered at 325 North Maple Drive, Beverly Hills, California, operating under the registered trademark TAPP®. Founded in 2021, the company builds a privacy-by-design consumer application available on iOS (App Store ID 1501205634) and Android (com.tappapp) that enables end-to-end encrypted chat, photo and video sharing, event coordination, and travel sharing exclusively among a user's invited family and close friends. Profiles cannot be searched or discovered publicly; all connections are formed through private invitation links delivered via text message, producing a closed network with no algorithmic public feed. The underlying platform architecture emphasizes end-to-end encrypted messaging that operates automatically without user configuration, granular per-post visibility controls (Only Me, All Connections, All Groups, or specific recipients), and minimal data collection.

The business model is distinct from typical consumer social platforms: TAPP is entirely ad-free and explicitly commits to never selling or sharing user data, generating revenue solely from transaction commissions on physical and digital goods sold through the service. Payment processing is handled by third-party providers including Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, with the company potentially retaining only the last four digits of card numbers. The company holds compliance certifications across GDPR, CCPA, the Nevada Privacy Notice regime, COPPA, the U.S. PROTECT Act, and Google Play Child Safety Standards, and cooperates with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for verified child safety incident reporting. TAPP targets a single persona — families and close friends seeking a private alternative to mainstream social media — and distributes exclusively through the two major app stores, with growth driven by word-of-mouth invitation mechanics rather than paid acquisition.

Name

TAPP

Legal name

TAPP INC.

Website

https://tapp.world

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TAPP Inc. operates an invite-only, end-to-end encrypted mobile social network for iOS and Android, enabling families and close friends to privately share content and chat. The ad-free platform monetizes solely through commissions on physical and digital goods sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Social Networking

NAICS

All Other Telecommunications (517810)

SIC

Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Community/Group Chat Platforms (BPAMACAH)

Keywords

• Private social network
• End-to-end encrypted messaging
• Invite-only social platform
• Mobile social networking
• Privacy-first social app

Headquarters

HQ city

Beverly Hills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Commissions on Physical Goods: TAPP generates revenue from commissions earned on the sale of physical goods through the platform. This is the primary revenue stream and replaces traditional advertising or data selling models.
2. Commissions on Digital Goods: TAPP also earns commissions on the sale of digital products and merchandise sold through the Service. Payment processing is handled through third-party providers including Stripe, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

TAPP is a private, invite-only social network delivered as a mobile application on iOS and Android, enabling users to share photos, videos, events, travel experiences, and product recommendations with family and close friends. The platform provides end-to-end encrypted chat, granular per-post visibility controls, and an ad-free experience with revenue generated through commissions on physical and digital goods sold in-app.

Product overview

TAPP is a private, invite-only social network provided as a mobile application (available on iOS and Android). The platform enables users to share content privately with family and close friends, featuring end-to-end encrypted chat, photo and video sharing, event coordination, and travel sharing. TAPP positions itself as an ad-free, privacy-focused alternative to mainstream social media, where users connect through private invite links rather than public searches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationStripe is used as a payment processor for handling transactions when users purchase merchandise or digital products through the Service. Stripe receives and processes payment information directly, with TAPP potentially receiving and storing partial billing information (last four digits of credit card numbers).
• Apple PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationApple Pay is used as a payment processor for handling transactions when users purchase merchandise or digital products through the Service.
• Google PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Pay is used as a payment processor for handling transactions when users purchase merchandise or digital products through the Service.
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)coreOthersTAPP cooperates with NCMEC for reporting verified incidents of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE), or grooming. When violations are confirmed, relevant materials are preserved and reported to NCMEC and other authorized child protection agencies as required by law. This partnership reflects TAPP's zero-tolerance policy toward exploitation and commitment to child safety.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Signal: Signal is a non-profit encrypted messaging app offering default end-to-end encryption for chats, voice, and video. It is the most direct functional peer to TAPP's privacy-first messaging core, though Signal operates at much greater scale and as a non-profit without a commerce-based revenue model.
• Threema: Threema is a Switzerland-based encrypted messaging app emphasizing privacy, anonymity, and data minimization. It mirrors TAPP's positioning as a paid, privacy-first alternative to mainstream messengers, and competes for the same privacy-motivated user segment.
• Wickr: Wickr is an end-to-end encrypted messaging service (now AWS Wickr) focused on secure communications. It shares TAPP's core emphasis on E2E encryption and privacy, though it has historically focused on enterprise and government users rather than family/friend networks.
• Vero: Vero is an ad-free, subscription-based social network that shares TAPP's positioning as an alternative to algorithmic mainstream social media. Both target users seeking authentic sharing without data exploitation, though Vero emphasizes public-style sharing rather than invite-only networks.

Broad incumbents

• WhatsApp: WhatsApp is the dominant global messaging platform with default end-to-end encryption. It serves the same family/friend communication use case as TAPP at billions-of-users scale, but is open to anyone with a phone number rather than invite-only.
• Telegram: Telegram is a large-scale messaging and group-chat platform with private groups and channels. While not E2E-encrypted by default in group chats, it competes for the same private family/friend community use case that TAPP targets.
• iMessage: Apple's iMessage is the default encrypted messaging service for iOS users and handles the same family/friend chat use case TAPP targets. As a pre-installed incumbent with end-to-end encryption, it represents the most accessible alternative for privacy-conscious Apple households.

Emerging players

• Element (Matrix): Element is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted messaging client built on the Matrix protocol. It offers private group chat with strong cryptographic guarantees, overlapping with TAPP's privacy-first messaging features while taking a federated, open-source approach.
• Dispo: Dispo is an invite-based social photo-sharing app that emphasizes authenticity and delay-based posting. It shares TAPP's invite-only onboarding friction and targeting of users dissatisfied with mainstream social platforms.
• Geneva: Geneva is a group-chat platform offering interest-based private communities on mobile and desktop. It overlaps with TAPP's community/group chat functionality and target use case of trusted-circle conversations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tappworld

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 TAPP