We seem to be in the golden age of no-code and low-code development, as seen by the recent success of startups like Squarespace and Bubble. This boom has caused a sharp increase in the development and release of new apps — a good sign when it comes to rapid innovation and digitization. However, it’s also introduced new challenges when it comes to testing and code reviews, leading to issues related to the actual maintenance and security of the apps being developed.
In short: The rise of no and low-code software means apps can be developed faster than ever before, but the tech required to actually maintain and secure those apps hasn’t quite caught up with the times.
This challenge has put a spotlight on platforms like mabl, which allows software developers to automate their UI and API tests at scale. After more than doubling its global annual recurring revenue over the last year, the Boston-based startup announced Thursday that it raised $40 million in fresh funding. The Series C was led by Vista Equity Partners’ Endeavor Fund, and makes up a lion’s share of the $77 million the company has raised thus far.
Using the content from sources such as emails and PDFs, mabl is able to generate tests and adapt those tests as a given app’s UI evolves throughout development. It can also show metrics quantifying how well a given test covers an app, identifying gaps based on statistics and the interactive elements on a page.
The goal, says co-founder Dan Belcher, is to “fundamentally [change] the way teams build and ship software.”
“With intelligent low-code testing, all team members can finally contribute to test automation that provides fast, actionable insight into how their work impacts the customer experience when it comes to product quality,” Belcher said in a statement.
So far, the model appears to be resonating. Mabl says its customer base has doubled in the last year, counting industry leaders like Chewy, DataRobot and Dollar Shave Club among them. And the team at Vista seem to think this growth will accelerate even more.
“Companies across industries are rolling out new products faster than ever, and their development teams need to feel confident they can run tests more quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality or user experience,” Rachel Arnold, a co-head and senior managing director of Vista’s Endeavor Fund, said in a statement. “With Vista’s investment and partnership, we hope to accelerate mabl’s vision, support its continued upward trajectory, and further enable its customers to build the tools they need to compete in a digital world.”
To that end, mabl will use this fresh funding to further fuel its international expansion, as well as grow its team to keep up with surging demand. The startup currently has about a dozen open tech positions available at its Boston HQ.
