Cross-Screen Ad Tech Startup Appier Raises $6M Series A From Sequoia Capital

Appier, an advertising technology startup, has raised a $6 million Series A from Sequoia Capital. The company, which is based in Taipei and has offices in Singapore and San Francisco, develops tech used for cross-screen targeted marketing across a wide range of devices, ranging from wearable tech to smartphones and tablets. Appier has previously raised seed funding of $1 million and its clients currently include Heineken, IKEA, Lancome, and game developers.

Founder Chih-Han Yu told TechCrunch that Appier plans to use its Series A to finance product development and further research for its integrated cross-screen targeting platform as well as expand its international sales offices.

The startup is currently focused on expanding in Asia, where mobile penetration rates are growing quickly.

“For market opportunity, I think there is a huge growth in the region for mobile and multi-screen marketing. End users start getting second, third, fourth screens, etc. Advertisers need a solution to reach targeted audiences via ‘optimal screen path.’ I think there will be more and more demand,” Yu says.

Appier’s platform uses artificial intelligence to match the right recipients with ads, and it claims to be the first cross-screen marketing solution in Asia. The company is Sequoia’s first investment in Taiwan. Other cross-screen ad-tech companies the venture capital firm has invested in include Drawbridge, which is based in San Mateo and raised a $6.5 million Series A from Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers and Sequoia in May 2012.

In a statement, managing director Shailendra Singh of Sequoia Capital said “In our view, Appier has a world class technology platform and team, and has a special set of founders led by Chih-Han Yu. The early success of Appier in driving superior conversions and performance for their clients is a clear proof of their capabilites. We are delighted to partner with the Appier team and hope to help them build a large global enterprise spanning multiple geographies.”