ContextSDK, a New York based startup focused on enhancing mobile app engagement, has raised $4 million in seed funding. The round was led by Speedinvest, a prominent European early-stage VC firm, with participation from First Momentum Ventures and New York-based Heracles Capital.
This funding will enable ContextSDK to expand its mobile event processing capabilities to over 40 billion events and launch its SaaS platform in the U.S. by 2025.
The investment will be pivotal for ContextSDK’s growth, particularly in scaling its machine learning-based platform. Speedinvest Partner Markus Lang noted, “ContextSDK is solving a critical issue in the mobile app ecosystem by offering personalized experiences without sacrificing user privacy. We’re thrilled to support Dieter, Felix, and their team as they lead innovation in this space.” Similarly, David Meiborg of First Momentum Ventures highlighted the startup’s timely approach to using real-world context as a proxy for user intent, particularly as demand for privacy-first mobile solutions increases.
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Personalizing App Experiences While Protecting Privacy
A key challenge in the mobile app industry is understanding user intent at the start of a session while safeguarding privacy. Apps are used in various contexts—whether users are on the go, in noisy settings, or preparing for bed—yet most apps function the same regardless of the environment. This lack of contextual adaptation results in missed opportunities for personalization and poor retention rates. Currently, 77% of users abandon apps within the first three days, and 95% by three months.
Innovative Use of Edge AI
Founded by Dieter Rappold and Felix Krause in 2023, ContextSDK uses Edge AI to interpret over 200 real-time signals from smartphones, enabling apps to adapt to users’ environments without intrusive data collection. This privacy-focused machine learning approach helps apps personalize user experiences while respecting privacy, avoiding the need for heavy infrastructure or compromising sensitive data.
Comprehensive Product Suite
ContextSDK offers three core products: Context Insights, Context Decision, and Context Push. These tools cover key aspects of app engagement, from analytics and decision-making to push notifications. By utilizing real-world context, the platform empowers product owners and CMOs to optimize the entire customer journey, ensuring personalized interactions without breaching privacy standards.
Building the Future of Mobile Apps
CEO and Co-Founder Dieter Rappold emphasized that combining server-side data and logic with on-device Edge AI will lead to better app experiences and improved user retention. Co-Founder and CPO Felix Krause added, “We believe the future of mobile apps lies in their ability to adapt to real-world contexts. We’re leading this transformation, establishing real-world context as the new gold standard for mobile app engagement.”
