Jest Hit $1 Million Run Rate After In-App Purchase Launch
Mobile developers can now access an alternative distribution platform that offers a 90% net revenue share.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Startups
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The startup Jest has reached a $1 million gross billings run rate just three months after enabling in-app purchases on its platform. The company, which focuses on web-based games and entertainment apps, is currently operating exclusively within the United States.
Why it matters
Jest provides an alternative distribution model to saturated traditional app stores by utilizing the RCS standard to integrate gaming and wallets directly into messaging apps. This strategy allows developers to bypass standard storefront hurdles while retaining a larger share of net revenue.
Jest reports a 15% payer conversion rate among active U.S. users and an average engagement of 24 minutes per user daily. The platform has facilitated over 4 million app and game sessions, with developers keeping up to 90% of net revenue while the company covers all messaging fees.
The players
Jest
A startup founded in 2025 that provides a messaging-integrated distribution platform for web-based applications.
Deyan Vitanov
The founder of Jest who established the company in 2025 to disrupt traditional app store distribution models.
The details
Developers integrate the Jest SDK to replace core app store components with messaging-based digital wallets. By using the RCS standard, the platform enables users to play web-based apps directly within messaging environments. This bypasses the traditional store interface, targeting developers looking for reduced overhead and higher direct revenue retention.
Timeline
Jest was founded in 2025.
The platform entered soft launch on July 1, 2026.
The company published its state of the platform report in Q3 2026.
Market Landscape
Jest follows a growing trend of platforms leveraging the RCS standard to move application distribution away from traditional, gatekeeper-controlled mobile app stores. This shift challenges the established revenue-sharing norms that have governed the mobile ecosystem for over a decade.
Operators in the mobile gaming space should evaluate whether the 90% revenue share offsets the potential loss of discoverability inherent in non-traditional app stores. Review your current customer acquisition costs against the 15% payer conversion rate reported by the platform.
The takeaway
Jest signals a shift toward messaging-centric app distribution that prioritizes developer margins over traditional store gatekeeping. Operators should track the 400% usage growth rate to determine if this distribution channel warrants a pilot program in their upcoming product roadmap.
Further reading
For broader trends in mobile distribution alternatives, explore the Startups section.
More information
Developers can submit an application for platform funding to participate in the company's new $1 million developer fund.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GamesBeat.
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Would you use your messaging app to play games instead of downloading traditional apps?
