Snap Inc.: From Picaboo to Public Offering Founded in 2011 by Evan Spiegel and Bobby Murphy, Snap Inc.’s journey began with the relaunch of Picaboo as Snapchat. Early challenges included a 2013 data breach exposing millions of user details and resisting acquisition offers from Mark Zuckerberg. The company strategically acquired several firms, including AddLive for video chat technology, Vergence Labs and Scan, enhancing its capabilities. A 2014 FTC settlement addressed concerns over user data handling. Expansion and acquisitions continued with Looksery for Lenses, Bitstrips, Obvious Engineering, and Vurb, significantly broadening Snapchat's features. Rebranding as Snap Inc. in 2016 and launching Spectacles marked a significant step. A successful IPO in 2017 valued the company at nearly $30 billion. Further acquisitions included Zenly, integrating its location-sharing features into Snapchat. Strategic partnerships with Time Warner and NBCUniversal solidified its media presence, while Tencent's investment underscored its global standing. The launch of Snap Camera in 2018 expanded its reach to desktop platforms. Recent years have seen workforce reductions, with significant layoffs in 2022 and 2024, reflecting industry adjustments. The appointment of Jim Lanzone to the board in September 2024 signals a continued evolution for the company.