Gabsee

High-Level Overview

Gabsee is a Paris-based gaming startup founded in 2016 that develops Stories One, a multiplayer mobile MMO game where communities of up to 1,000 players collaboratively create shared adventures in an ever-changing open world, such as high school students in the 1980s investigating supernatural events.[3] Initially known for its Gabsee app, which enables users to create customizable 3D avatars placeable in augmented reality (AR) environments—similar to an animated Bitmoji—the company has evolved toward immersive gaming experiences.[1][3][4] It serves gamers seeking social, narrative-driven multiplayer interactions and solves the problem of static single-player games by fostering dynamic, community-built stories, with early recognition from Station F's Top 30 Startups of 2019 indicating initial growth momentum.[1][3]

Origin Story

Gabsee was founded in 2016 in Paris, France, by Lucas Bouyoux (Co-Founder & CEO, with experience at Google Workspace and entrepreneurship studies at UC Berkeley), Arthur Pernot (COO, ESSEC Business School background), and Bruno Grégoire (C++ and Unity3D developer, experience at Politecnico di Torino and Histovery).[3] The idea emerged from the trend of personalized AR avatars, with the Gabsee app launching as a 3D avatar creator allowing users to insert animated selves into real-world AR scenes, gaining notice alongside competitors like Bitmoji.[1][4][5] Early traction came via Naver's accelerator at Station F, where it was highlighted in the 2019 Top 30 Startups for its innovative AR social features, and secured funding from investors including Daphni VC, Bpifrance, Kima Ventures, and Naver.[1][3] This pivot to Stories One marked a pivotal shift to full-fledged gaming.

Core Differentiators

• AR-Powered Avatar Creation: Users build highly customizable 3D avatars for real-world placement, offering an interactive, animated alternative to 2D stickers like Bitmoji, with potential for social sharing and empathy-driven experiences.[1][4]
• Community-Driven Storytelling in MMOs: Stories One stands out with massive multiplayer communities (up to 1,000 players) co-creating evolving narratives in open worlds, blending investigation, exploration, and social adventure—unlike traditional linear games.[3]
• Investor and Accelerator Backing: Supported by top French VCs (Daphni, Kima) and programs like Station F/Naver, providing strong network access and validation in Europe's startup ecosystem.[1][3]
• Cross-Platform Social Integration: Leverages AR for seamless blending of digital avatars with reality, positioning it amid rising 3D avatar trends from Snapchat and Apple.[4][5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Gabsee rides the AR and 3D avatar wave in social media and gaming, amplified by Snapchat's Bitmoji acquisition and Apple's Animoji, where avatars enhance user engagement through personalization and immersion.[4][5] Timing aligns with the 2016-2019 surge in mobile AR (post-Pokémon GO) and multiplayer social gaming, simplifying complex interactions for SMBs and consumers amid rising demand for empathetic, shared digital experiences.[1][4] Market forces like VR/AR hardware adoption and social platforms' shift from likes to interactive content favor Gabsee, influencing the ecosystem by pioneering community MMOs that could inspire hybrid social-gaming apps from incumbents like Facebook.[4][5]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Gabsee's trajectory points to scaling Stories One as a next-gen mobile MMO, potentially expanding AR avatars into metaverse-like persistent worlds with monetization via in-game items or premium communities. Trends like AI-driven narratives and Web3 social gaming will shape its path, evolving its influence from niche AR innovator to key player in collaborative virtual economies—building on its 2019 momentum to challenge giants in immersive entertainment.[3][5] This positions Gabsee as a bet on AR's mainstreaming, much like Bitmoji's edge for Snapchat.