Sungy Mobile
Mobile application developer and global advertising platform.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor investor | €0.0 | round |
$20.0m | Late VC | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Sungy Mobile is a Chinese developer of mobile applications and a mobile advertising services provider. Founded in 2003 by Yuqiang Deng and Xiangdong Zhang, the company, also known as GOMO, initially focused on the Symbian OS market before pivoting to an Android-first strategy. This shift led to the creation of its flagship "GO" series of applications, which includes the highly popular GO Launcher EX, a home screen replacement that allows for extensive user interface customization. By the end of September 2013, GO Launcher EX had attracted approximately 239 million users and averaged 42 million monthly active users.
The company's origins are tied to the founders' belief that mobile phones would become the core of the internet in China. They launched the 3G.cn mobile portal, aiming to create a free, open mobile internet experience tailored to users' needs. This early venture established their presence in the mobile space. Sungy Mobile's portfolio expanded to include a wide range of utility apps like GO SMS, GO Weather, and Z Camera, as well as mobile games and, more recently, live broadcasting and VR applications. The company's products have been downloaded over 1.6 billion times across more than 200 countries.
Sungy Mobile's business model is based on a mix of revenue streams. It monetizes its free applications through in-app advertising, partnerships with third-party app makers, and by offering paid 'pro' versions of its software. The company also operates a global mobile ad network that connects advertisers with publishers, utilizing targeting algorithms to maximize campaign effectiveness. A significant portion of its revenue comes from users outside of China, particularly the US.
A major milestone was its initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange in November 2013 under the ticker "GOMO", which raised over $80 million. This move was intended to increase brand recognition among overseas consumers. However, the company later went private in November 2015 after being acquired by Sunflower Parent Limited.
Keywords: mobile application developer, Android applications, user interface customization, mobile advertising network, GO Launcher, GO series apps, mobile utility tools, app monetization, 3G.cn, Yuqiang Deng, Xiangdong Zhang, mobile platform development, GOMO, app distribution, mobile games, ad-tech, in-app purchases, Android personalization, Z Camera, GO SMS
