Pocket Change

Pocket Change, founded in 2011 by Ari Mir and Amos Elliston, operated as a universal loyalty currency platform based in San Francisco. The company positioned itself as a monetization and user experience solution for mobile applications, particularly within the gaming sector. The core idea emerged from the founders' own experiences as game developers, where they identified a lack of effective and user-friendly monetization options in the marketplace. Ari Mir, a serial entrepreneur, brought significant product leadership experience, having previously co-founded GumGum.com and MoJungle, which was acquired in 2007.

The business model centered on creating a universal gaming currency that users could earn across various mobile apps and then spend on digital or physical goods. For developers, Pocket Change offered a platform to enhance user engagement, which could then drive revenue through advertising or in-app purchases. The company provided developers with a self-service dashboard to manage campaigns and target users. This system was designed to address the poor user experience associated with existing monetization tools at the time. The company, which was also known as Lunch Money, successfully raised a total of $6.4 million over two funding rounds. Notable investors included Google Ventures, First Round Capital, and Baroda Ventures. The Series A round in July 2012, led by Google Ventures, raised $5 million. Despite its initial funding and vision, Pocket Change eventually ceased operations and is now considered a deadpooled company.

Keywords: mobile loyalty, universal currency, app monetization, in-app purchases, mobile gaming rewards, developer tools, user engagement platform, virtual currency, Ari Mir, Amos Elliston, Google Ventures, First Round Capital, Lunch Money, digital rewards, loyalty platform, mobile advertising, fintech, San Francisco startup, gaming currency, monetization solution