AppsFire raises $3.6M from Idinvest

France-based startup founded by Israeli entrepreneur creates application for iPhone, Android platform that helps users search and share best apps available on their system

Reuters | Published: 06.09.11, 14:02

AppsFire, a France-based startup founded by Israeli entrepreneur Ouriel Ohayon and Yann Lechelle, has raised $3.6 million in series A funding from French investor Idinvest Partners.

AppsFire is an application for the Apple iPhone and iPad and the Android platforms that helps users search and share the best apps available on their system. It’s a unique and fun way to discover new apps, and a very popular alternative to the Apple App store and Android market place.

AppsFire recently hit the two-million user milestone worldwide, with a top 10 ranking in the US, France, Spain, Germany, Austria and Turkey.

The Apple App store recently hit over 500 million apps. The Android market place is poised to overtake it soon.

With the flood of apps coming out for both platforms, and the massive catalog of apps currently available, a smarter, more personal alternative to the standard offering is needed by consumers and developers, who are desperate to get their apps noticed by the public.

Other similar app discovery startup have gotten funding recently. Quixey, a startup backed by Eric Schmidt’s Innovation Endeavors, raised $400,000 in seed funding last month.

GetJar, an independent app store for all major mobile platforms such as Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and iPhone, raised $25 million in February.