Apontador, the Brazil-based developer of a mobile app to review local businesses throughout Latin America, has secured $15m in series A funding from mobile commerce company Movile, according to Venturebeat.
Apontador’s platform hosts customer reviews of local businesses. It also enables users to book reservations at restaurants, provides an overview of where friends visit, and offers exclusive promotions and deals.
Founded in 2000, the company has attracted more than two million users and lists more than 10 million businesses. US-based competitor Yelp, which went public in 2012 raising $107m, launched its service in Brazil, Mexico and Argentina in 2013.
Moacir Kang, chief executive of Apontador, said: “Movile is a fantastic partner for us moving forward because they are mobile experts and we already have a great web product.
“We have seen what they have done with iFood, quintupling their orders taken through mobile in under a year. Now we are ready to grow Apontador even faster in the next year by embracing mobile at a time when the region is taking off. ”