Vertebrae

Vertebrae was founded in 2015. It offers e-commerce solutions using 3D and augmented reality (AR) for large retail chains. Vertebrae technology provides web-based visualization of 3D products and AR products and approximation of products, which allows you to achieve measurable results. A comprehensive platform simplifies the process of creating and managing 3D assets, integrating directly with existing workflows and trading platforms, the manufacturer claims.

History

2021: Snap bought Vertebrae

On July 20, 2021, Snap announced the purchase of Vertebrae, which specializes in creating brands and managing 3D versions of its products. The Vertebrae team with a total of 50 people after the change of ownership of the startup will continue to develop a platform for existing and new customers.

Although Snap first used its augmented reality technology to create silly effects such as rainbow vomiting and dancing hot dogs, the company is increasingly considering AR as a way to shop. The first virtual reality tests for shopping began with a recent collaboration with Gucci, the technology allows people to virtually try on a pair of limited edition sneakers.

We are very pleased to join Snap, where we will strengthen and expand our world-class 3D asset platform for retailers and brands. The future of AR commerce is very rosy, and we will continue to make it easier for our partners to create, manage and deploy AR expertise at all points of contact with the consumer, "said Vertebrae CEO Vince Kakase.

Snap acquired Vertebrae

Snap declined to say how much it paid for Vertebrae, but the deal was likely small compared to the $500 million acquisition of WaveOptics, which produces AR displays for its Spectacles smart glasses.

As of July 20, 2021, Vertebrae raised about $10 million in venture capital financing. On the company's website, Toyota, Adidas, CB2 and other well-known brands are listed as customers. In 2019, the company also worked with Facebook - Snap's largest competitor - on AR shopping technology.

If you combine Vertebrae with other Snap acquisitions and features related mainly to purchases, including Fit Analytics and Screenshop, you can understand that the company aims to become the center of global shopping. For brands, the company creates a self-service system that allows you to easily download and manage AR versions of your products that people can discover on Snapchat.

If people really start making AR purchases using their phones, this will make Snapchat more popular in the near future.^[1][2]

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