Jest, a marketplace for messaging games, is challenging the app store status quo

Jest, a messaging games marketplace, emerged from stealth with $7 million in seed funding to challenge app stores by enabling users to send games directly through chat threads without downloads. The platform leverages Rich Communication Services (RCS) and offers developers a 90/10 revenue split versus app stores' 30% commission. Within four months of beta testing, Jest achieved over 1 million games played with 3-4 times better retention than traditional mobile apps, while developers report 30-60% lower user acquisition costs.