Voi founder backs app store-dodging startup Zellify in €3.1m seed round

2026-04-28 · Source: Sifted · Field: Business & Management — Entrepreneurship & Start-ups, E-commerce & Digital Commerce, Marketing, Branding & Advertising · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

London-based startup Zellify has secured €3.1 million in a seed funding round, aiming to empower mobile developers to bypass traditional app store fees and gain greater control over their user acquisition and growth strategies. The funding round saw participation from notable investors including Voi founder Fredrik Hjelm, Candy Crush designer Sebastian Knutsson, and Kry founder Johannes Schildt. Zellify's platform is designed to help developers reduce their reliance on major app stores like Apple and Google, which typically charge commissions of up to 30%. The company plans to introduce new monetization features, such as an in-app purchase SDK, to help developers retain a larger share of the estimated $45 billion spent annually on in-app purchases. Zellify also intends to integrate AI to assist developers in creating "hyper-personalized" experiences for their users, enhancing engagement and retention.

Key takeaway

For mobile app developers seeking to reduce reliance on app store ecosystems and improve revenue retention, Zellify offers a platform to bypass high commissions. You should explore its direct monetization features and AI-driven personalization tools to gain more control over your user acquisition and in-app purchase revenue, potentially increasing your profit margins significantly.

Key insights

Zellify helps mobile developers bypass app store fees and control growth through direct monetization and AI-driven personalization.

Principles

• Developers seek alternatives to high app store commissions.
• Direct monetization enhances developer revenue retention.

Method

Zellify provides an SDK for in-app purchases and integrates AI for hyper-personalized user experiences, enabling developers to manage growth outside traditional app store ecosystems.

In practice

• Implement direct in-app purchase SDKs.
• Utilize AI for user personalization.

Topics

• Zellify
• Seed Funding
• Mobile Development
• App Store Fees
• Developer Empowerment

Best for: Entrepreneur, Investor, Software Engineer

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Sifted.