PushSpring, a Seattle-based analytics company that helps mobile app developers target specific audiences, has raised $5 million in a first round of capital. The investment was led by Trilogy Equity Partners and brings the company’s total raised to date to $6.6 million.
The company said it will use the money to make additional investments in PushSpring’s product and to grow its team of 13 employees, with a focus on adding data science and engineering talent. It raised $1.6 million from individual investors a year ago.
PushSpring, which has been operating for the past two years, was founded by three Seattle mobile veterans: Karl Stillner, Steve Dossick and Tyler Davidson. Stillner, who is PushSpring’s CEO, and Dossick, who is the company’s CTO, both worked together at Zumobi, a Seattle-based mobile ad network, and Davidson, who worked previously at Amdocs, Clearwire and IceBreaker, is the company’s chief revenue officer.
For the past year, the company has been building a mobile app data management platform that collects data abut mobile app users, so that publishers can target advertising or send push notifications more effectively. It does this by aggregating data about users, and then putting those users into generic profiles based on a person’s life stage, interests and intent. Examples of such profiles include fitness enthusiasts, financial news hounds or gadget lovers. The platform works on both iOS and Android.
“Advertisers and app owners are seeking every competitive advantage they can when it comes to understanding and connecting with their highest value customers on their mobile devices,” said PushSpring’s Stillner, in a statement. “We provide companies with the ability to reach the right customers with the right message at the right time. This increased investment enables PushSpring to accelerate the delivery of market-leading products and services for our customers.”
As part of the investment, PushSpring said Trilogy’s partner Cole Brodman will join the board. Brodman has held several roles in the telecom industry, including CTO and chief marketing officer at T-Mobile USA. Will Hodgman, the founder of two previous analytics companies, including M:Metrics, which was sold to comScore, also recently joined PushSpring’s board. Hodgman is currently CEO at Informate Mobile Intelligence, a mobile measurement company.
