Appster was an Australian

mobile app development Mobile app development is the act or process by which a mobile app is developed for one or more mobile devices, which can include personal digital assistants (PDA), enterprise digital assistants (EDA), or mobile phones. Such software applicatio ...

company, founded in 2011 by Josiah Humphrey and Mark McDonald. Appster developed mobile apps and websites for

startup companies A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an Entrepreneurship, entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship includes all new businesses including self-employment and businesses tha ...

, and enterprises. The company was once touted as the "next

Apple An apple is a round, edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus'' spp.). Fruit trees of the orchard or domestic apple (''Malus domestica''), the most widely grown in the genus, are agriculture, cultivated worldwide. The tree originated ...

" by analysts due to its fast growth. However Appster later collapsed and went into liquidation, on 7 December 2018.

History

Appster was launched in June 2011 by 19-year-olds Mark McDonald and Josiah Humphrey, with $50,000 originally as a digital agency consulting to online

e-commerce E-commerce (electronic commerce) refers to commercial activities including the electronic buying or selling products and services which are conducted on online platforms or over the Internet. E-commerce draws on technologies such as mobile co ...

companies on conversion rate optimization. It soon evolved into a software-development and digital product strategy firm. During 2011 they hired over 15 staff in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

, Australia and completed over 20 apps. In 2014, Appster had over 100 staff globally. The company opened an office in San Francisco with 5 full-time staff and estimated revenues in the Australian market of $10 million. By 2015 the partners appeared on the AFR Young Rich List with a combined net worth of $58 million. They were also included in

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...

' "30 Under 30" list. February 2015, Appster partnered with Hobart's New Town High school in

Tasmania Tasmania (; palawa kani: ''Lutruwita'') is an island States and territories of Australia, state of Australia. It is located to the south of the Mainland Australia, Australian mainland, and is separated from it by the Bass Strait. The sta ...

to give students a hands-on experience coding and designing gaming apps. When the company failed, it had over $19 million in revenue yearly with 400 employees in four international offices. On 7 December 2018, Appster announced that it collapsed because of failed projects and entered liquidation proceedings. Several business owners were owed hundreds of thousands of dollars at the time of the collapse. More than 200 people were unemployed and the company failed to honor its employment contract with its employees. No employee was paid any salaries or dues The administrator of the liquidation, Paul Vartelas of BK Taylor & Co. liquidators said that the main reason for the collapse of Appster was a "sharp drop" in available work during the prior 6 months before the collapse, which led to lost revenue and missed targets. In 2019, it was reported that the liquidator was rallying creditors to pursue legal action against founders McDonald and Humphrey, alleging they traded while insolvent.

Awards

* 2014 BRW’s 27th Most Innovative Company. * 2015 Telstra Business Award

References

External links

* * {{cite web, url=https://www.lawyerly.com.au/appster-founders-face-12m-insolvent-trading-case/, title=Appster founders face $12M insolvent trading case, website=lawyerly.com.au, date=9 December 2021 Defunct software companies of Australia Companies based in Melbourne Australian companies established in 2011 Australian companies disestablished in 2018