Jest text-powered app store hits $1M run rate in three months, launches $1M developer fund

Jest, the texting-powered app store built on RCS (Rich Communication Services), has announced it crossed a $1 million gross billings run rate in three months since enabling in-app purchases. The milestone marks rapid early adoption of the platform's messaging-based distribution model.

To capitalize on momentum, Jest is launching Fund II, offering up to $1 million in funding for mobile games and entertainment apps that leverage texting as a primary distribution channel. The debut fund received over 200 applications earlier this year, accepting under 10% and growing the active catalog from 30 to 60 titles.

"AI made building software easy. Distributing it is the real challenge," said Deyan Vitanov, CEO of Jest. "Traditional app stores are completely saturated. We built Jest to unlock a new distribution channel based on texting and our rapid growth proves how badly developers need an alternative to legacy stores."

Jest is built on RCS, an open GSMA standard that operates as next-generation text messaging within phones' native messaging apps. Google Messages on Android and Messages on iPhone since iOS 18 support RCS, which uses mobile data or Wi-Fi rather than the legacy SMS channel and adds features typically associated with iMessage, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

The platform is demonstrating strong early metrics. Jest reported a 15% payer conversion rate among active US users, nearly five times higher than standard mobile app benchmarks. Daily engagement has tripled since Q2 to 24 minutes per user, and total apps and games played scaled 400% from 1 million to over 4 million.

Fund II is designed to back developers across three stages. The Explore tier supports early validation and rapid prototyping. Scale funding deepens platform testing for promising apps on their path to becoming flagships. Flagship support targets breakout successes and established franchises ready to grow.

"The Jest Fund gave Orbo the early distribution rocket fuel we needed," said Efe Kucuk, head of Gaming at Trilitech. "The Jest platform offers better economics than the legacy mobile app stores, higher engagement, and a team that actually supports developers. We've shipped a lot of games through numerous channels and this is the first platform where the deal favours the developer."

Jest offers developers up to 90% of net revenue while covering all messaging fees. The platform provides complete infrastructure including payments, notifications, authentication, and compliance. Developers can adapt existing web or mobile apps and launch within days.

Vitanov founded Jest in 2025 after observing the power of messaging-based distribution at Playco, an instant gaming platform, and through work with Facebook Messenger and Line. He identified RCS's launch as a foundational opportunity. While Apple added iOS support for RCS late last year, the protocol had been in development for approximately a decade.

Jest operates exclusively in the US as of now. Vitanov stated the company is close to expanding RCS infrastructure and payment systems internationally but has not yet completed those rollouts.

Developers can apply for funding or publish on Jest through about.jest.com/fund or explore technical documentation at docs.jest.com.