Bitstrips

Pioneer in personalized avatar-based digital communication; rebranded as Bitmoji under Snap Inc., now the dominant avatar sticker platform globally

Bitstrips was founded in 2007 in Toronto, Canada, as a web and mobile platform that allowed users to create personalized cartoon avatars and comic strips featuring themselves and their friends. The app went viral in 2013, generating millions of downloads and becoming a cultural phenomenon on social media platforms. At its peak, Bitstrips was one of the top downloaded apps globally, with users sharing comic-style stickers and scenes across Facebook, Twitter, and other networks. The company raised approximately $8 million in venture funding before its acquisition. In March 2016, Snap Inc. acquired Bitstrips for approximately $64 million, recognizing the power of personalized avatar-based expression as a core communication tool. Following the acquisition, Snap rebranded the product as Bitmoji, which became deeply integrated into Snapchat as a central feature of the platform's identity and messaging experience. Bitmoji avatars are now used across Snapchat's lenses, Snap Map, and chat features, and have expanded to third-party keyboards available on iOS and Android. The Bitmoji brand has grown far beyond its Bitstrips origins, becoming one of the most recognized avatar systems in the world with hundreds of millions of users. Bitmoji stickers are available as a standalone keyboard app and have been integrated into platforms including Gmail, Tinder, and Slack. The technology underpins Snap's broader augmented reality and personalization strategy, making the original Bitstrips concept a foundational element of Snap's product ecosystem and a significant asset in the competitive social media and digital expression landscape.