 | |
| Founded | 2007 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Jacob Blackstock David Kennedy Shahan Panth Dorian Baldwin Jesse Brown |
| Defunct | July 8, 2016 (7 years ago) |
| Fate | Acquired by Snapchat Inc. |
| Headquarters | Toronto , Canada |
Bitstrips was a media and technology company based in Toronto, Canada, and founded in 2007 by Jacob Blackstock, David Kennedy, Shahan Panth, Dorian Baldwin, and Jesse Brown.[1][2] The company's web application, Bitstrips.com, allowed users to create comic strips using personalized avatars, and preset templates and poses.[3] Brown and Blackstock explained that the service was meant to enable self-expression without the need to have artistic skills. Bitstrips was first presented in 2008 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, and the service later piloted and launched a version designed for use as educational software. The service achieved increasing prominence following the launch of versions for Facebook and mobile platforms.
In 2014, Bitstrips launched a spin-off app known as Bitmoji, which allows users to create personalized stickers for use in messaging apps. In July 2016, Snap, Inc. announced that it had acquired the company; the Bitstrips comic service was shut down, but Bitmoji remains operational, and has subsequently been given greater prominence within Snapchat's overall platform.
- ^ Bholla, Cheyenne (10 May 2022). "UW grad is co-founder and engineer of Snapchat's Bitmoji". The Record. Metroland Media Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ O'Kane, Josh (30 January 2020). "Toronto-based Bitmoji launches Snapchat TV show to expand reach of cartoon portraits". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ Moss, Caroline. "Here's How You Can Create Those Personalized Comic Strips That Are Popping Up All Over Facebook". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2013.