Scan (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile application development, Computer vision |
| Founded | January 2011 |
| Founder | Garrett Gee, Ben Turley, Kirk Ouimet |
| Fate | Acquired by Snap Inc. in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Provo , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Garrett Gee (Founder) |
| Products | QR code and barcode scanning apps, QR code generation tools |
| Owner | Snap Inc. |
Number of employees | 9 (2012) |
| Parent | Snap Inc. |
Scan is a mobile application development firm based in Provo, Utah, USA. Established in January 2011 by Garrett Gee along with his college associates Ben Turley and Kirk Ouimet, the company was purchased by Snap Inc. in 2014 for $54 million.
Overview
The company focuses on technologies related to scannable items like QR codes. Its apps allow users to decode QR codes, NFC tags, and other machine-readable images through computer vision techniques. Additionally, Scan provides tools for generating QR codes that direct to online destinations such as social media accounts and customized web pages.
By mid-2013, Scan had raised $1.7 million in seed capital from investors including Google Ventures, The Social+Capital Partnership, and Charles River Ventures. The iOS version debuted in February 2011, achieving over one million downloads within its first three months and surpassing 10 million installs after a year and a half. By the end of 2012, combined downloads on iOS and Android platforms had exceeded 25 million.
After being acquired by Snapchat, Scan’s technology was integrated into Snapcode, which enhanced Snapchat’s user interaction through QR code-based functionalities.
History
During his time at Brigham Young University (BYU), Garrett Gee collaborated with fellow students Kirk Ouimet and Ben Turley to create the app. The initial iOS release took place during a BYU student competition in 2012.
In 2013, Garrett presented the app on Shark Tank, but the panel decided not to invest.
By March 2012, Scan had expanded its team to nine employees.
Revenue
Scan’s revenue model primarily depended on advertising income generated from scanning "1D" barcodes that directed users to affiliate links and advertisements. As of May 2012, daily earnings from affiliates and ads reportedly surpassed $1,000.
Features/Releases
At the beginning of 2012, Scan supported scanning QR codes and 1D barcodes that linked users to websites, e-commerce carts, social networks, and lead capture pages. In February of the same year, Scan launched Scan Pages—mobile-friendly hosted pages for businesses accessible via QR codes.
In May 2012, the company introduced "Scan-to-gram," allowing QR codes to connect directly to Instagram profiles. By December 2012, version 2.0 expanded compatibility to include QR codes as well as UPC, EAN, and ISBN formats.
The Scan website underwent a redesign in August 2013 aimed at streamlining QR code creation and associated services.
Snapchat Acquisition
Information revealed through leaked Sony Pictures emails indicated that Snapchat acquired Scan for roughly $50 million; subsequent reports placed the transaction value at $54 million—comprising $30 million in cash with the remainder paid in Snapchat stock. The technology developed by Scan underpins Snapchat’s Snapcode feature, which plays a crucial role in user engagement and monetization strategies. This acquisition underscores Snapchat’s strategic focus on strengthening its core offerings and broadening its market presence.