AltStore, one of the first and most popular third-party app stores, has just announced a Series A funding round, a new board member, and plans to expand its platform to at least three new countries. Here are the details.
Although AltStore first launched in 2019, developers Riley Testut and Shane Gill have seen its popularity skyrocket in recent years, in part because the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) compelled Apple to allow alternative app stores and sideloading within the region.
With the introduction of AltStore PAL, a version tailored for the EU, users have been able to install apps not normally available through Apple’s App Store, including adult apps and Fortnite, as well as titles by more than 100 independent developers who have adopted the platform’s self-publishing tool.
Regulatory scrutiny helps AltStore expand
With regulatory scrutiny mounting over Apple’s App Store practices in several countries, it’s no surprise that AltStore, who was already backed by Patreon in Europe, is preparing to broaden its reach and capitalize on the current shift toward alternative and more open marketplaces.
Today, as reported by TechCrunch, Testut and Gill announced a $6 million Series A funding round by Pace Capital, as well as the addition of Clipboard CEO Mike McCue to its board.
Not only that, but they also confirmed plans to expand availability to at least three new countries by the end of the year, including Australia, Brazil, and Japan.
Finally, AltStore is embracing ActivityPub and the fediverse, with its own Mastodon server, allowing developers and users to have a more direct channel of communication and interaction.
Here’s Testut in an interview with TechCrunch on what this means:
“That means, if you have a Mastodon account or a Threads account, you could follow these accounts. You could follow the source from our Mastodon server. Then, in your timeline, you’d see when there was an app update.”
He also said that AltStore will use part of the $6 million to give back to the community that has helped them thrive, with donations that will add up to $500,000 to “Mastodon gGmbH ($300,000), as well as Bridgy Fed by A New Social, Ivory + Phoenix by Tapbots, Tapestry by The Iconfactory, mstdn.social, Akkoma, PeerTube, BookWyrm, and Fedify,” per TechCrunch’s report.
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