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Scan develops mobile applications designed to bridge the physical and digital worlds through scannable codes. Its core product suite enables users to read various physical codes, including QR codes and machine-recognizable images, leveraging computer vision technology. The platform further allows for the creation of customized QR codes, linking physical objects to digital content such as websites, social media profiles, and dedicated web pages.
The company was founded in January 2011 by Garrett Gee, alongside his college peers Ben Turley and Kirk Ouimet. Gee conceived the initial application while a student at Brigham Young University, leading to the development of their first iOS application within a university competition. This early insight recognized the growing potential of mobile devices to interact seamlessly with embedded digital information.
Scan's offerings primarily serve consumers seeking quick access to information via physical codes, as well as businesses and individuals aiming to connect audiences to online destinations. The company's vision centers on simplifying the interaction between users and the digital layer embedded within everyday objects, making information universally accessible through intuitive scanning technology.
Scan has raised $9.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Scan has raised $9.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Scan is a mobile app development company that built consumer-facing applications for scanning QR codes, barcodes, NFC tags, and machine-recognizable images using computer vision.[1] Headquartered in Provo, Utah, it served individual users and businesses by enabling quick links to websites, social profiles, shopping, and custom hosted pages, solving the problem of bridging physical items to digital content in an era before widespread QR adoption.[1] Founded in 2011, Scan achieved rapid growth with 25 million downloads by 2012 and was acquired by Snapchat in 2014 for $54 million, evolving its core QR tech into Snapcode.[1]
The app launched on iOS in February 2011, hitting 1 million installs in three months and 10 million in a year and a half, demonstrating strong early momentum tied to mobile scanning trends.[1]
Scan was founded in January 2011 by Garrett Gee, alongside college friends Ben Turley and Kirk Ouimet, all from Provo, Utah.[1] The idea emerged from recognizing the untapped potential of "scannable" technologies like QR codes and NFC amid rising smartphone adoption, starting as a simple mobile scanner app.[1] Early traction was explosive: the iOS app launched in February 2011, reached 1 million downloads in three months, 10 million after 18 months, and 25 million across iOS and Android by December 2012.[1] Pivotal moments included 2012 releases like Scan Pages (QR-linked mobile sites), Scan-to-gram for Instagram, and v2.0 app supporting multiple code types (QR, UPC, EAN, ISBN), plus a 2013 website overhaul for easier QR creation.[1] This momentum led to Snapchat's $54 million acquisition in 2014.[1]
Scan rode the early 2010s mobile scanning wave, capitalizing on smartphone cameras and QR code resurgence amid social media and e-commerce growth, when physical-to-digital bridges were novel.[1] Timing was ideal post-iPhone boom, filling a gap before native camera apps dominated; market forces like Instagram's rise (via Scan-to-gram) and NFC hype favored it.[1] Post-acquisition, Scan influenced Snapchat's ecosystem by birthing Snapcode, normalizing camera-based QR for AR lenses and user discovery, accelerating QR's mainstream revival (seen later in COVID contactless trends).[1] It exemplified how nimble startups shaped big tech's mobile UX, influencing computer vision and scannable media standards.
Post-2014 acquisition, Scan operates under Snapchat (Snap Inc.), with its QR tech integral to Snapcode for user connections, payments, and AR—ensuring enduring relevance.[1] Next steps likely involve AI-enhanced scanning for dynamic codes, deeper AR integration, and expansion into commerce amid QR's global boom (e.g., WeChat Mini Programs).[1] Trends like computer vision ubiquity and privacy-focused biometrics will shape it, potentially evolving Snap's moat in social discovery. Scan's story—from Provo dorm idea to $54M exit—highlights how solving simple scanning pains can redefine mobile interactions, a lesson for today's AI-native builders.[1]
Scan has raised $9.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Scan's investors include Accel, Avalancha Ventures, Buckley Ventures, Cowboy Ventures, E14 Fund, Felix Capital, Floodgate, Human Augmentation Syndicate, March Capital, Nyca Partners, QueensBridge Venture Partners, Rainfall Ventures.
Scan has raised $9.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $7.0M Series A in September 2012.