Hover Developer Services

Hover Developer Services Inc. offers a specialized software development kit (SDK) for Android application developers, enabling the automation of Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) sessions. Founded in 2017 by Ben Lyon, Jess Shorland, and David Kutalek, the Seattle-based company provides a tool that allows developers to integrate any USSD-based service directly into their applications, regardless of the mobile operator.

The company's core product is an Android SDK that runs USSD interactions in the background of an application. This allows for the automation of a wide range of services that rely on USSD, a protocol used for real-time interaction with a service provider's computers via short codes without needing an internet connection. Developers can use Hover to automate processes like mobile money payments, bank services, airtime top-ups, and bill payments. The platform is designed to make these services more accessible, particularly for users with visual, literacy, or numeracy impairments. Key features include the ability to run actions on a user's SIM card, parse final USSD or SMS messages to categorize transaction outcomes, and customize the user experience.

Hover's business model originally targeted developers, viewing them as the key to unlocking the market. The company operates on a subscription-based model for its services. However, after observing that hundreds of developers in over 60 countries were using the technology but few were paying, the company recognized a need to validate the business model alongside the technology. This led to a pivot, with the creation of Stax, a direct-to-consumer application built on Hover's technology. Stax provides an offline payment app for users in Africa, allowing them to transfer money, buy airtime, and pay bills without using USSD codes directly or needing an internet connection.

Co-founder Ben Lyon's journey is deeply rooted in financial technology in emerging markets. Before Hover, he co-founded Kopo Kopo, a mobile money merchant aggregator in East Africa. This experience provided him with firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities in the African fintech landscape, directly influencing Hover's mission. Lyon also served as an Entrepreneur in Residence for Caribou Digital’s Digital Financial Services (DFS) Innovation Lab, where he supported fintech startups across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The company has secured a total of $1.64 million in funding over two seed rounds. The first round occurred on September 19, 2017, raising $445K, followed by a $1.2M seed round on January 28, 2019. Its investors include Caribou Digital Investments, DFS Lab, Musha Ventures, and Stout Street Capital.

Keywords: USSD automation, Android SDK, developer tools, financial technology, fintech, mobile payments, offline payments, emerging markets, Africa fintech, mobile money, USSD API, Stax, in-app payments, airtime top-up, bill pay automation, developer services, financial inclusion, background USSD, SIM services, mobile banking API