Sometimes a business idea is so compelling that it seems like a no-brainer to back it, and that appears to be the case with Snapstagram.
Founded in May, Snapstagram specializes in printing Instagram photos.
For the uninitiated, Instagram is a photo-sharing app and social network that allows users to take a photo, apply a digital filter to it, and then share it with other Instagram users or their followers on other social media. To date, it has more than 100 million registered users.
“Whether on campus here at OSU, watching a concert at Newport, or enjoying a Saturday football game, you are guaranteed to see people using the Instagram app,” says Jared Gibbons, co-founder and CEO of Columbus-based Snapstagram.
During the holiday season last year, Gibbons found himself frantically trying to think of unique gift ideas.
“My friends and I had printed Instagram photos before, but it was a difficult task to accomplish,” he says. “Square images are hard to come by. After Googling the web for a simple way to print my Instagrams, I realized there wasn’t anything to make printing my grams easy.”
And Snapstagram was born.
Gibbons and his co-founders, Kelly Nowels and Steven Engel, had all backed Kickstarter projects they found inspiring, and their goal was to use the crowdfunding platform themselves one day. When they came up with the idea for Snapstagram, they immediately devised a Kickstarter campaign.
“We started with an initial goal of $3,000, and after 30 days we had raised well over $14,000,” Gibbons says. “Our Kickstarter backers were crucial in helping to mold Snapstagram into the type of business we are today.”
Instagram users have also helped shape the company.
“We love engaging with these users and asking them what they like about Instagram, and what their thoughts are about printing their Instagram shots,” he says, adding that Snapstagram has received lots of valuable feedback and works constantly to implement improvements.
Gibbons says the most rewarding aspect of owning Snapstagram is knowing that it’s providing a product that customers really value.
“I remember growing up some of my favorite times were sifting through old family photographs and remembering all of those captured moments,” he says. “We want to provide that experience and feeling of nostalgia for all of our customers. It truly is something special.”
To learn more about Snapstagram, visit Snapstagr.am.
