It’s becoming the most basic fact of the industry: if you want to reach people, find them on their mobile devices. Not only are consumers tied to them, but enterprise is finding the appeal of mobility too strong to resist.
As the industry of mobile continues to grow, an increasing number of startups are taking a stab with mobile marketing ventures. These four mobile marketing startups will be the ones to watch in 2015.
1. Twilio
Twilio has taken a fairly simple concept and ran with it. The San Francisco-based startup offers an easy-to-use API for companies to build and integrate voice and messaging into mobile apps. Its list of brand customers is impressive and includes Uber, Airbnb, and OpenTable – all sharing economy businesses that thrive off mobile connections.
In 2014, Twilio kept busy. It expanded services to Europe and added a sought after picture messaging service. If the startup continues its momentum in 2015, it will be a force to pay attention to.
2. MobileX Labs
It’s not enough anymore to have a mobile optimized website because smartphone users feel more comfortable using tailor apps. The problem is developing a customized app for a business can be complicated and costly. That’s where MobileX Labs comes in. The startup has built a cost effective platform that helps businesses build their own branded mobile apps.
The Chicago based firm was founded 2012, but just released its self-serve app building platform Nativ in fall of 2014. Nativ allows anyone to build a mobile app or game without any coding. That tool – and the $1.5 million secured in funding –is a bit of a game changer and could propel MobileX Labs as one of the top mobile marketing startups in 2015.
3. Myriad Mobile
Myraid Mobile isn’t another startup to come out of Silicon Valley – it’s got its roots firmly planted in the Silicon Prairie of North Dakota. Founders Jake Joraanstad and Ryan Raguse were rival app developers during their time at North Dakota State, but soon put their differences aside and Myriad Mobile was born.
Joraanstad and Raguse use their expertise for mobile strategy and consulting ranging from issues from design, development, and support for brands. They also have no plans of moving from its roots and hopes to change the misconceptions of North Dakota being a “fly-over” state. Both founders are active in the community, starting several entrepreneur groups and hope the success of their mobile startup can inspire other Midwestern startups.
4. Kahuna
Mobile marketing automation startup Kahuna had an impressive 2014. The startup – which helps markets pull test and automate mobile push notifications – started out the year with $11 million in secured funding. Kahuna utilized that funding to further develop its technology which helps apps push notifications to users at the right place and time – a process that so far has garnered a 20% response rate.
At the end of 2014, Kahuna was able to lure Salesforce vice president of engineering Fayyaz Younas. Younas is a bigwig in the world of software engineering, so the fact that a mobile startup was able to pull enterprise talent of his caliber is a good indication that Kahuna will be a startup to watch in 2015.
