What are micro apps? They’re designed to mediate between legacy enterprise software and employees. While workers need instant notifications, legacy companies often rely on outdated equipment with decidedly non-instant notifications. The massive companies are unlikely to update their software, so they can instead buy a Sapho micro app designed to interface with their specific software. And, since huge legacy companies have an appropriately sized budget, Sapho can afford to tailor apps to a variety of standard software packages, “from sales and accounting software to HR management platforms,” according to TechCrunch. They’ll even create an app to match a particular program if they don’t have one already. Sapho is designed to identify and address a specific issue that its founders hated: The round of $9.5 million funding comes on the heels of news about a complete slowdown of apps: The average smartphone users downloads zero apps per month. A few major social network apps (your Facebooks, your Snapchats) have absorbed enough mobile attention that no stand-alone games or apps can get a foot in the door. Sapho’s MO handily avoids this problem: Since each of Sapho’s micro apps is only designed to be downloaded by a limited number of workers hoping to improve the software that they’re stuck with, Sapho has a limited but dedicated audience. While other apps are losing visibility to social media-driven consolidation, Sapho appears to be thriving. Given the success of it’s Series A, investors agree. Image: Flickr / WOCinTech
