Malaysian Startup Develops World’s First Advertising Platform on WhatsApp

Adzappr runs on a mobile webpage that is simple and easy to navigate.

WhatsApp, the most popular mobile messaging service has a staggering 2 billion private users globally and over 5 million companies registered on its enterprise-level Whatsapp Business. With such a massive user volume, Whatsapp is a fertile ground for advertisers yet there has been no advertising feature integrated into this instant messaging platform.

But Adzappr has changed all that. This homespun startup is building the world’s first advertising platform that allows businesses to launch campaigns in WhatsApp display pictures (DP) and statuses from as low as RM10 per day. 

The team behind Adzappr who share a passion for smart, accessible advertising. (from L-R) Sanjay Chankaranth, Nadhrah Yunus, Shervina Danaraj, Hakimuddin Asghar, (not pictured) Madhu Pillai
 
 

In today’s digital advertising landscape, big companies dominate most of the ad space on mainstream platforms while small businesses struggle to get discovered. But the 2 billion user-base on WhatsApp is a completely untapped market for advertisers. This is where Adzappr has pioneered a whole new field of ad space, spotlighting brands in a unique and original way.

“Adzappr is a crowdsourced platform that enables users to wilfully download and place an ad in their WhatsApp DP and status,” says its Chief Executive Officer Nadhrah Yunus. “In return, users get the chance to earn a passive income of up to RM200 per month. Now thatis non-invasive and engaging advertising which gains viewers’ trust.”

Since its launch in 2021, Adzappr has already completed more than 3000 live campaigns and garnered over 33,000 hours of ad exposure airtime. But more importantly, Adzappr is one of the very few tech startups led by female co-founders in Malaysia. It serves as a revolutionary example in an industry so often dominated by men.

Trusted, responsible advertising

The five Adzappr founders (pic above) came together with a common goal – to provide trusted advertising in a world filled with intrusive ads. Adzappr’s trust factor is simple: users will most likely have a personal connection with the people that view their WhatsApp DPs, such as friends and family. This is why Adzappr provides more credible advertising as audiences will see ads promoted by people they know and trust. 

“It’s quite clever actually,” says Shaahbaz Ali, CEO of Leap, the digital advertising partner for Apple. “WhatsApp DPs do get noticed often, and the platform has smart analytics for businesses.” 

The Adzappr journey

Nadhrah recalls the very first milestone in the startup’s journey – coming up with the idea. “Businesses of all sizes were scrambling to go digital when Covid first hit, but not all could afford digital advertising,” she shares. “Then we thought, ‘Since so many users are on WhatsApp every day, what if they could help brands get noticed through DPs and statuses?’” 

But coming up with the idea was only the first step. Despite the challenges the team faced with pilot testing, bug correction, remote working and acquiring advertisers, they persevered and expanded the platform’s user base to approximately 15,000 users in Malaysia alone after launching the beta version in 2021.

Adzappr was born in a coworking space as the product of a team coming together with a common goal: to disrupt the advertising industry.
 

“Our user base has been growing exponentially, so much so that some users reach out to us to get more campaigns,” says Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Chankaranth. “We’ve had a lot of users who’ve earned money through the campaigns thanking us for creating Adzappr. It is overwhelming and humbling at the same time to watch the Adzappr community grow at this pace.”

Adzappr is more than just innovative advertising. The home-grown startup is passionate about bringing users closer to the brands they love and helping businesses get discovered. In an information-cluttered world, Adzappr provides a fresh perspective on the importance of organic, user-friendly advertising.

Currently, Version 2 of the platform is in the works with the addition of many new and exciting features. To sign up for Adzappr, visit https://adzappr.com/user/login on a mobile phone for users, or https://adzappr.com/web/login for businesses.  

by Alya Nazmi and Hardip Singh Rekhraj

This article is contributed by Venturous PR, a student-led communications agency from Taylor’s University, School of Media & Communication (SOMAC). As an entrepreneurial sandbox for senior PR undergraduates, Venturous PR strives to make innovative communication solutions accessible to Startups and SMEs. The project is part of Business Today’s social engagement initiative with PR students to promote ethical journalism. This Startup is part of MDEC’s Malaysia Digital Hub Community, which provides impactful intervention to facilitate growth of local tech companies.

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