Unlockd

The business model was predicated on creating a new revenue stream for telecommunication partners while providing a tangible reward for consumers. Unlockd established partnerships with telecom carriers, including Boost Mobile (a Sprint brand) in the U.S. and the Axiata Group in Asia, to deploy its white-labeled application to their customer bases. Revenue was generated from advertisers and media companies, such as Twitter, Starbucks, and Lyft, who paid to access this targeted lock-screen inventory. A significant portion of this revenue, reportedly around 70 percent, was passed back to the end-users in the form of rewards.

The platform's technology aimed to deliver geo-targeted ads based on user interests, location, and the time of day, capturing user attention at a moment of high engagement. Over its operational period, Unlockd successfully raised over $50 million in venture capital through several funding rounds, including a notable $23 million Series B in 2017 led by Axiata Digital. Despite its initial growth and expansion into multiple international markets, the company ceased operations and entered administration in mid-2018.