Bitstrips

Bitstrips, Inc.

Company type	Private
Industry	Technology, Media
Founded	2007 (2007)
Founder	Jacob Blackstock, David Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Baldwin, Jesse Brown
Defunct	2016 (2016)
Fate	Acquired by Snap Inc.
Headquarters	Toronto , Canada
Products	Bitstrips.com, Bitmoji
Parent	Snap Inc.

Bitstrips, Inc. was a Toronto-based Canadian technology and media firm established in 2007 by Jacob Blackstock, David Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Baldwin, and Jesse Brown. The company created Bitstrips.com, a web application that allowed users to generate comic strips by customizing avatars using predefined templates and poses.

The platform, developed by Brown and Blackstock, aimed to provide a creative outlet for individuals without requiring artistic abilities. Bitstrips made its initial appearance in 2008 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas and subsequently released an educational version of the software. Its popularity surged after launching versions for Facebook and various mobile devices. In 2014, Bitstrips unveiled Bitmoji, an offshoot app enabling users to design personalized stickers for use in instant messaging.

In July 2016, Snap, Inc. acquired Bitstrips; while the original comic creation service was discontinued, Bitmoji continues to operate and has become an integral component of the Snapchat experience.

History

Toronto-based comic artist Jacob Blackstock collaborated with his high school friend, journalist Jesse Brown, to co-create Bitstrips. Their objective was to make comic strip creation accessible to everyone regardless of drawing skills. Brown emphasized the demanding nature of traditional comic production, noting the extensive time and craftsmanship involved, and described Bitstrips as akin to a "YouTube for comics." Blackstock considered it a platform for self-expression where users and their acquaintances could star in comics, enhancing communication through visuals rather than text alone.

The service was publicly introduced at South by Southwest in 2008. In 2009, an education-specific version called Bitstrips for Schools was launched and tested within Ontario’s school system. It received acclaim for engaging students effectively, especially in language courses. Brown observed that students frequently used the tool beyond classroom assignments to craft imaginative and impressive stories.

Bitstrips debuted on Facebook in December 2012; by July 2013, it had attracted 10 million unique users who had created over 50 million comics. The mobile app released in October 2013 rapidly became a top download across 40 countries, with more than 30 million avatars generated. In November 2013, the company secured investment from Horizons Ventures and Li Ka-shing.

In October 2014, Bitmoji was launched as a separate application allowing users to produce customized stickers featuring Bitstrips-style characters. When Snap Inc. acquired Bitstrips in July 2016, it maintained the Toronto office but discontinued the original comic platform to concentrate solely on developing Bitmoji. This decision led to user demands for the revival of the original comic service.