AppLovin


AppLovin is a mobile marketing platform. The company was founded in 2012, but operated in stealth mode until 2014. AppLovin is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

History

The company was founded in 2012 by Adam Foroughi, John Krystynak, and Andrew Karam, and was reportedly named by Foroughi after the McLovin character from the film Superbad. The company operated in stealth mode until 2014. During this time, the company raised $4 million in financing from angel investors, Streamlined Ventures and the Webb Investment Network, and focused on developing its product. Before emerging from stealth mode, AppLovin acquired customers including companies like Opentable and Spotify. In October 2014, AppLovin purchased the German mobile ad-network, Moboqo.
On September 26, 2016, it was reported that AppLovin had agreed to be acquired by the Chinese private equity firm, Orient Hontai Capital, for $1.42 billion; the acquisition deal was subsequently abandoned for debt investment after opposition to the plans from CFIUS.
The convertible note facility that AppLovin received from Hontai Capital was fully refinanced In August 2018, after AppLovin raised a significant credit facility from U.S.-based investors. Hontai retain a small equity stake in AppLovin.
In July of 2018, AppLovin launched Lion Studios, an independent media division of AppLovin that works with mobile developers to publish and promote their games.
In 2016, the company was ranked #10 on the Deloitte Fast 500 North America list.