Chomp (search engine)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile app search engine |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Cathy Edwards, Ben Keighran |
| Fate | Acquired by Apple Inc. |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Mobile app search engine for iOS and Android |
| Parent | Apple Inc. (from February 2012) |
Chomp was a company specializing in mobile app search engines, established in 2009 by Cathy Edwards and Ben Keighran and headquartered in San Francisco. The firm raised $2.5 million in capital and offered users the ability to search for applications across multiple platforms, including iOS and Android, with specific apps available for each system.
In February 2012, Apple Inc. acquired Chomp for an undisclosed amount, rumored to be near $50 million. Soon after the acquisition, Chomp discontinued its Android app search capabilities and removed its Android application from Google Play, while continuing to support app searches on iOS. By September 2012, the company was completely shut down, and its website was taken offline.
History
Chomp introduced its initial iPhone application in January 2009, attracting more than 300,000 users within two months. In March 2010, it secured $2 million in Series A funding from investors such as BlueRun Ventures, Ron Conway, Brian Pokorny, and David Lee. The company focused on enhancing its search engine technology to facilitate better app discovery.
By February 2011, Chomp launched a dedicated Android app, aiming to improve upon the existing search features of the Android Market. By May 2011, the iOS app ecosystem had expanded to approximately 500,000 apps, while Android's market contained around 200,000. In September 2011, Chomp updated its iPhone application with a more responsive user interface. That same month, it introduced “Chomp Search Ads,” a service enabling developers to bid on keywords to display targeted advertisements within the app search engine.
Furthermore, in September 2011, Chomp collaborated with Verizon to provide app search functionality for Android devices through Verizon Apps.
Acquisition by Apple
Apple Inc. acquired Chomp in February 2012 for an undisclosed sum estimated to be about $50 million. Following this acquisition, Chomp halted its Android search services and removed its Android application from Google Play, while maintaining its iOS app operations temporarily. By September 2012, the service was entirely discontinued and the website was deactivated. It is widely believed that Apple integrated Chomp’s search technology into its own App Store platform.