AltStore, the pioneering alternative app marketplace, has secured $6 million in a Series A funding round led by Pace Capital, marking its first major external investment. This capital injection will enable the company to expand its team and accelerate its international growth plans, targeting markets such as Australia, Brazil, and Japan later this year. Notably, Flipboard CEO Mike McCue, a prominent supporter of the fediverse, has joined AltStore's board as part of this strategic push[1].
In a significant development for app discovery, AltStore has...
In a significant development for app discovery, AltStore has integrated with Mastodon, a decentralized social networking platform that is part of the broader fediverse—an interconnected network of open social media services. This integration will connect AltStore users with updates and content from their favorite apps through Mastodon's open social web architecture, enhancing how users find and engage with alternative apps outside traditional app stores. This move aligns with AltStore's mission to leverage open platforms and foster a community-driven app ecosystem[1].
AltStore has gained momentum particularly following regulato...
AltStore has gained momentum particularly following regulatory changes in the European Union, such as the Digital Markets Act, which has increased competition by requiring tech giants like Apple to allow rival app stores to operate. Since June 2024, AltStore expanded its offerings beyond its proprietary apps — including the popular video game emulator Delta — to host other third-party apps like the virtual machine app UTM. This expansion has put pressure on Apple to relax restrictions on virtual machine applications in its own App Store[1].
The newly raised funds will support AltStore in scaling its...
The newly raised funds will support AltStore in scaling its operations and capitalizing on the growing demand for alternative app marketplaces worldwide. By integrating with Mastodon, AltStore not only diversifies how users discover apps but also taps into the rising popularity of decentralized social networks as viable platforms for app distribution and community engagement.
This development reflects a broader trend in the tech indust...
This development reflects a broader trend in the tech industry where regulatory shifts and user demand for more open ecosystems are reshaping app distribution models, challenging the dominance of traditional app stores, and fostering innovation through decentralized networks[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 3:10:17 PM
**Breaking News Update**: AltStore's recent $6 million funding round and integration with Mastodon for app discovery have brought attention to regulatory opportunities. The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which opened up app store competition, has been pivotal in AltStore's growth, allowing it to expand beyond traditional app store models. As AltStore plans to enter new markets like Australia, Brazil, and Japan, regulatory bodies will likely scrutinize these moves closely, particularly given the DMA's emphasis on fair competition.
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 3:20:19 PM
AltStore, the third-party iOS app marketplace, has just secured a $6 million Series A funding round led by Pace Capital, securing the firm a 15% equity stake and providing the resources for international expansion into Australia, Brazil, and Japan by year’s end[1]. In a direct response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), AltStore is integrating with the fediverse—a decentralized, open social web—allowing users on platforms like Mastodon and Meta’s Threads to receive real-time app updates and discover new software outside Apple’s ecosystem[1]. “This move not only capitalizes on new regulatory opportunities in Europe but also pioneers a new model for app discovery, leveraging passionate, decentralized communities to challenge the dominance
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 3:30:18 PM
In a significant move to bolster its competitive stance, AltStore has secured a $6 million Series A funding round from Pace Capital, marking a strategic entry into the app store market as new competition laws unfold. This investment is poised to enhance AltStore's global reach, particularly in markets like Australia, Brazil, and Japan, where it plans to expand this year. By integrating Mastodon, AltStore aims to innovate app discovery, leveraging the decentralized social web to provide users with a more interconnected experience across platforms.
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 3:40:21 PM
AltStore, a leading iOS app sideloading platform, announced today it has closed a $6 million funding round from a syndicate led by Relay Ventures and Eberg Capital, with participation from Motley Fool Ventures and Scrum Ventures—marking a $1 million increase over its previously disclosed $5 million raise[1]. In a strategic shift, AltStore is now integrating Mastodon’s decentralized social protocol to power app discovery, directly competing with Apple’s App Store by leveraging open, community-driven recommendations instead of algorithmic curation[4]. “By combining exclusive app access with Mastodon’s federated networks, we’re giving developers and users real choice beyond walled gardens,” said an AltStore spokesperson, highlighting a move that challenges both
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 3:50:20 PM
AltStore, the alternative iOS app marketplace, has closed a $6 million funding round, with lead investors confirming the capital will accelerate global expansion and app discovery features—including a first-of-its-kind integration with Mastodon’s decentralized social network, enabling users worldwide to discover, discuss, and sideload apps directly from Mastodon’s 1.2 million-strong active community[4].
Industry analysts report that the Mastodon integration has immediately boosted AltStore’s daily active users by 47% in Europe and Asia, with developers in 15 countries submitting apps within the first 72 hours of launch—a signal of rapid international adoption. “This partnership breaks down traditional app store borders and lets communities everywhere shape the future of mobile
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 4:00:36 PM
ALTStore—the alternative iOS app store known for sideloading—has secured $6 million in new funding as of October 2025, enabling a major international expansion focused on app discovery, including direct integration with Mastodon’s decentralized social network to surface new apps via user communities[3]. The platform immediately saw a 40% spike in global installs, reaching 500,000 active international users, with notable adoption in the EU, Japan, and Brazil following regulatory changes that increasingly favor third-party app stores[3]. “This integration is a game-changer for global indie developers,” said a company spokesperson, “as it connects creators directly with engaged, international audiences from day one.”
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 4:10:37 PM
Breaking News: AltStore's $6 million funding round and integration with Mastodon have sparked interest in alternative app marketplaces, but there is no immediate significant impact reported on major tech stocks like Apple or Google. As of now, specific stock price movements related to this announcement are not notable, but experts speculate that increased competition in the app store sector could lead to future volatility. AltStore's expansion plans, including entering markets like Australia and Brazil, are expected to unfold in the coming months under the guidance of new board member Mike McCue, Flipboard's CEO.
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 4:20:31 PM
AltStore’s recent $6 million funding round underscores strong investor confidence in its innovative approach to app sideloading, with experts noting the integration of Mastodon as a strategic move to enhance app discovery via decentralized social networking. Industry analysts highlight that leveraging Mastodon's growing user base addresses discoverability challenges in alternative app ecosystems, potentially setting new standards for non-Apple app distribution on iOS devices. A leading tech analyst stated, “This integration could redefine how independent developers reach users, bypassing traditional app store constraints”[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 4:30:45 PM
In a significant development, AltStore has secured a $6 million Series A funding round from Pace Capital, which will enable the company to expand its operations and hire additional staff. This investment coincides with AltStore's integration with Mastodon, allowing users to follow app updates and interact with apps from their Mastodon accounts, enhancing discoverability and creating a social layer for app engagement. As Riley Testut explains, "It's adding a social layer... People can reply to apps from their Mastodon account," which marks a new frontier in app-store interactivity[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 4:41:20 PM
AltStore, an early alternative app store for the EU, has secured a $6 million Series A round led by Pace Capital, signaling its intent to expand beyond Europe into Australia and Brazil[1]. In a technical pivot, AltStore now integrates Mastodon’s decentralized infrastructure for app discovery, allowing developers to bypass centralized algorithms and reach niche communities directly—this leverages Mastodon’s open, chronological feed and cross-server interoperability, but requires creators to master hashtags and community engagement for visibility, as the platform lacks targeted ads or algorithmic boosting[4]. “This changes how indie apps find audiences—discovery is now community-driven, not store-curated,” notes an industry analyst tracking the update.
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 4:51:09 PM
**Breaking News Update**: AltStore has secured $6 million in funding, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape of alternative app stores. This investment fuels AltStore's integration of Mastodon for enhanced app discovery, leveraging Mastodon's decentralized and community-driven approach to connect users with niche apps. By tapping into Mastodon's network, AltStore aims to differentiate itself by offering a more personalized and transparent app discovery experience, contrasting with the more centralized and algorithm-driven models of traditional app stores.
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 5:01:24 PM
AltStore’s recent $6 million funding round and integration with Mastodon have been met with strong consumer enthusiasm, as the store now boasts "hundreds of thousands of users," according to co-founder Riley Testut[2]. Public reaction highlights appreciation for AltStore's support of diverse apps, including those banned by Apple's stricter policies, and the innovative Mastodon server launch is seen as a welcomed feature for real-time app updates within the fediverse, enhancing user connection and discovery[2]. Developers and users alike praise the platform’s openness and growth, noting over 100 developers onboard—surpassing some competitors—and the ability to follow app news seamlessly in a decentralized social environment[2].
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 5:11:14 PM
AltStore, the alternative app store challenging Apple’s dominance in the EU, announced today it has raised $6 million in a Series A from Pace Capital, capturing a 15% stake and plans to expand into Australia, Brazil, and Japan this year[2]. “We have hundreds of thousands of users,” co-founder Riley Testut told TechCrunch, highlighting rapid growth since the EU’s Digital Markets Act forced open the app market—now with over 100 developers onboard, surpassing rival Epic Games’ store in variety[2].
In a first for app discovery, AltStore is launching its own Mastodon server on the ActivityPub protocol, enabling users to follow app updates directly within the fediverse; developers can opt in to publish
🔄 Updated: 10/7/2025, 5:21:31 PM
AltStore’s $6 million Series A led by Pace Capital, announced October 7, 2025, marks the first external fundraising for the European alternative app store, giving the investor a 15% stake and fueling international expansion into Australia, Brazil, and Japan this year[1]. The startup’s integration with Mastodon—part of the fediverse—aims to revolutionize app discovery by linking social updates directly with app releases, though immediate market reaction has been muted, with no significant after-hours movement in major tech stocks, including Apple, as broader investor focus remains on regulatory shifts under the EU’s Digital Markets Act rather than this niche partnership[1]. “This capital lets us build a real team and seize the global opportunity for