Lumi (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Packaging, Supply chain management |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Jesse Genet, Steph Ango |
| Fate | Acquired by Narvar in 2021 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Inkodye, Lumi.com (custom packaging software platform) |
| Parent | Narvar |
Lumi, Inc. is a company headquartered in Los Angeles, established by Jesse Genet and Steph Ango, specializing in software solutions for packaging and supply chain management. The company initially created Inkodye, a photo-reactive vat dye activated by either UV radiation or sunlight. In 2021, Lumi was acquired by Narvar.
History
Jesse Genet began exploring printing methods during her teenage years in 2004, aiming to find alternatives to screen printing and dye-sublimation. She uncovered a chemical recipe from the 1950s, which she and Stephan Ango—whom she met at the Art Center College of Design—updated and transformed into Inkodye.
In December 2009, Lumi initiated a Kickstarter campaign to support research and development, successfully raising $13,597. Contributors received products created using the Inkodye process as rewards. The campaign achieved early recognition by winning the Best Design Project award of 2010 on Kickstarter. A subsequent campaign launched in June 2012 sought to bring Inkodye to market, surpassing its $50,000 target by raising $268,437—over 500% of the initial goal—with incentives such as DIY printing kits. Lumi appeared on ABC's Shark Tank in February 2015, where it received two investment proposals that were ultimately declined.
March 2015 marked the debut of Lumi’s software platform, Lumi.com, designed for custom packaging creation and ordering. Supported by seed funding from Y Combinator, this platform addressed packaging production challenges encountered with Inkodye. It has been likened to fulfillment and manufacturing simplification services such as Blackbox by Cards Against Humanity and Make That Thing! by TopatoCo.
In 2021, Lumi became part of Narvar through acquisition.
Inkodye Process
The Inkodye technique falls under alternative photographic processes but utilizes chemistry based on vat dyes like indigo, which are less toxic compared to iron- or silver-based compounds used in cyanotype or Van Dyke brown printing methods. Available in various shades—including red, orange, copper, blue, navy, magenta, plum, sepia, and black—Inkodye colors can be blended or diluted with water.
A monochrome digital negative is produced on a transparency film, typically printed via inkjet using black ink, sized to match the intended final print dimensions. The undeveloped Inkodye is applied directly onto fabric; then the transparency negative is positioned over it and exposed to sunlight or UV light for a duration ranging from 3 to 15 minutes depending on color and light strength. This exposure activates the dye’s color development and fixes it onto the fabric. Residual unexposed dye is subsequently removed through washing with detergent in a washing machine.