Chatbooks

Chatbooks was founded in 2014 by Nate and Vanessa Christensen in Lehi, Utah. Nate Christensen previously co-founded the company that became Property Brothers fame? (requires correction) — the firm started as a way to print Instagram photos into books automatically.

Chatbooks operates on a subscription model. Users subscribe to receive a printed photo book automatically every month or every quarter. The firm also sells individual photo books, albums, and custom products like prints and cards. Revenue comes from subscription fees and a la carte product sales.

Chatbooks has raised at least $50 million in venture capital, according to public records. Investors include Bessemer Venture Partners and other firms. The company was valued at over $200 million in its 2019 funding round (per PitchBook, 2019).

Chatbooks maintains a manufacturing facility in Utah, where it prints many of its photo books. It also partners with third-party printers to handle overflow and certain product types. The firm says it uses US-based production to maintain quality control and reduce shipping times.

Chatbooks competes with Shutterfly, Mixbook, and other consumer photo-printing services. Its main differentiator is the automated subscription model that requires minimal user effort to create a photo book. Shutterfly and Mixbook offer more manual design tools and broader product lines.

Chatbooks launched a business platform in December 2023 called 'Chatbooks for Business'. It allows professional photographers to use Chatbooks' printing and fulfillment services for their clients. This is a new revenue stream beyond the direct-to-consumer subscription business.

Chatbooks is a direct-to-consumer subscription service. Users connect their Instagram, Facebook, or phone photo library to the app. The app automatically creates a photo book of recent photos — usually the last 30-60 photos in chronological order — and ships it to the user on a recurring schedule. The user can review and edit before printing.