SourceDNA

SourceDNA built their code-scanning platform primarily for mobile app developers and security teams who needed visibility into third-party SDK dependencies within iOS and Android applications. ​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌Their assumption was that developers would pay for transparency around code quality and origin—essentially solving a blind spot in the app development workflow. The company validated this targeting through their public SDK marketshare reports, which demonstrated genuine demand for the data they were collecting. By publishing free research on SDK adoption patterns, SourceDNA attracted organic interest from developers and enterprises concerned about code provenance and potential security risks. However, available sources don't clearly document whether they discovered their actual paying customer base differed significantly from initial assumptions, or specific details about their customer acquisition challenges. What's evident is that their early signal of validation came through the traction of their research reports themselves—developers and companies actively engaged with their published data, suggesting the underlying problem resonated. This research-first approach positioned them as authorities in mobile app transparency before attempting direct sales.