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Snapfish has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Snapfish.
Snapfish was founded in 1999 by Raj Kapoor (CEO & Co-Founder).
Snapfish has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Snapfish offers an online platform to transform digital photographs into personalized physical products. It provides items such as photo books, custom cards, prints, and various photo gifts, utilizing high-quality printing techniques and materials. The service prioritizes user-friendly creation and ordering across devices, converting digital memories into tangible keepsakes.
Founded in 1999 as "Project Skytalk" by Rajil Kapoor, Bala Parthasarathy, Suneet Wadhwa, and Shripati Acharya, Snapfish launched its website in April 2000. Their initial insight was to offer universal access to digital memories, acting as an early cloud solution, enabling users to create personalized printed goods from these images.
Snapfish serves a wide customer base, from casual photographers to enthusiasts preserving and sharing moments. Its vision centers on being a premier provider for personalized photo products and printing. The company aims to transform snapshots and significant events into thoughtful, lasting gifts, making photo preservation accessible and enjoyable for all.
Key people at Snapfish.
Snapfish has raised $8.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series A in December 1999.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 1999 | $8M Series A | — | Foundation Capital | Announced |
Snapfish is a web-based photo sharing, storage, and printing service that enables users to upload, manage, and turn digital photos into personalized products like prints, books, cards, and gifts.[1][2][3] Owned by Shutterfly (following a 2020 merger under Apollo Global Management), it serves over 100 million members across more than 12 countries, partnering with major retailers such as Walgreens, Costco, and Walmart to provide affordable photo fulfillment.[1][2] The platform solves the problem of preserving and sharing digital memories by offering easy online tools for creation and printing from any device, with reported 2024 revenue of $64.8 million and steady growth through innovation in products like insulated tumblers and home décor.[2][4]
Snapfish was founded in 1999 in San Francisco by business partners Rajil Kapoor, Bala Parthasarathy, Suneet Wadhwa, and Shripati Acharya, who aimed to create an online service for storing, sharing, and printing photos from film, digital cameras, and camera phones.[1][2][3][4] Ben Nelson joined shortly after as corporate development lead, later becoming CFO, president, and CEO, driving early expansion.[1] Pivotal moments included its 2001 acquisition by District Photo, a 2004 physical store experiment in Virginia (later closed), and a landmark 2005 purchase by Hewlett-Packard for $300 million despite under $100 million in revenue at the time.[1] The company evolved through partnerships with retailers, acquired CafePress in 2018 for over $25 million, and merged with Shutterfly in 2020 under Apollo Global Management in a $3 billion deal, solidifying its position in photo retail.[1]
Snapfish rides the enduring trend of digital photography and personalization, capitalizing on smartphone ubiquity and the shift from physical albums to on-demand prints amid growing demand for tangible memories in a digital world.[1][2][4] Its timing aligns with early internet photo-sharing booms in the late 1990s and resurgences in e-commerce post-pandemic, bolstered by retail partnerships that embed it in everyday shopping.[1] Market forces like competition from Shutterfly (now merged), Zazzle, and Flickr favor Snapfish's scale and affordability, while it influences the ecosystem by pioneering online photo retail and inspiring hybrid digital-physical experiences.[1][3]
Snapfish is poised to expand its personalized product lineup, potentially emphasizing AI-enhanced editing, sustainable materials, and deeper e-commerce integrations amid rising demand for custom gifts.[4] Trends like mobile-first creation and social media photo exports will shape its growth, with Apollo's backing enabling tech upgrades and global pushes. Its influence may evolve toward dominating retail photo kiosks and subscription models, reinforcing its role as a memory preservation staple—much like its origins as a scrappy startup disrupting film-to-digital transitions.[1][2][4]
Snapfish was founded in 1999 by Raj Kapoor (CEO & Co-Founder).
Snapfish has raised $8.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Snapfish's investors include Foundation Capital.
