Looksery
| File:Looksery logo colored.png | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , United States |
Key people | Julie Krasnienko Marketing and Business Development Director |
Number of employees | 45 (2016) |
| Parent | Snap Inc. (2015–present) |
| Website | www.looksery.com |
Looksery was a U.S.-based company specializing in software and photography, established in 2013 by entrepreneurs Victor Shaburov and Yurii Monastyrshin. Headquartered in San Francisco, it was later acquired by Snap Inc.. The firm created the Looksery application, offering users real-time facial transformation capabilities on mobile devices.
The enterprise operated offices both in the United States and Ukraine.
History
In 2013, Victor Shaburov founded Looksery in San Francisco. Following a programming competition held in Ukraine that he sponsored, he invited the winner, Yurii Monastyrshin, to join as co-founder. By 2014, the company had expanded with offices located in Odesa, Ukraine and Sochi, Russia. To support its development efforts, Looksery launched a successful Kickstarter campaign that surpassed its funding goal.
Looksery was purchased by Snap Inc. in September 2015 for $150 million, representing the largest startup acquisition originating from Ukraine at that time. Snap incorporated Looksery’s facial modification technology into its widely used Lenses feature.
Application
Prior to becoming part of Snapchat, Looksery functioned as an independent application available on iOS and Android platforms. The app allowed users to alter their facial appearance live during photo or video chats. Additionally, it enabled sharing of photos and videos through various social media and messaging services. Following the introduction of Snapchat's Lenses feature, Looksery was discontinued as a standalone product. In June 2014, the company initiated a Kickstarter campaign aimed at developing an app to improve users’ appearance during video conversations.
Reception
Looksery garnered considerable media recognition. Vogue included it among the ten Best Apps of 2014, highlighting its engaging and inventive qualities. TechCrunch referred to it as "a clever application that lets you change your facial features," while Inc. emphasized its usefulness for individuals who are camera-shy by making live video interactions more comfortable.
Awards
In 2014, Looksery earned the Best Innovative Startup Award at the SVOD annual conference held in Silicon Valley.