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Lapse

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uuid0003wak

Namestring
Lapse
Legal namestring
Lapse Ltd
Websiteurl
beta.lapse.app
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2021
Short descriptiontext

Lapse is a London-based iOS social photo-sharing app that simulates a disposable film camera with 24-hour photo development, serving Gen-Z users seeking authentic, friends-only photo sharing without ads or data monetization.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
HQ citystring
London
HQ countrystring
United Kingdom
HQ regionstring
Europe
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
disposable camera app, photo sharing app, social photo journaling, film simulation mobile, iOS photo application
Product category
Social Photo Sharing App
Social media profiles2 records
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model1 record
1Free App with No Monetization
TypeFreemium
Description

Lapse is currently a free application with no advertising and no data monetization. The company has explicitly stated they do not run ads or sell user data. Revenue generation strategy for the future is not disclosed in available sources.

lapse.com
Marketing channels3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components4 values
Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Pricing details1 tier
1Free tier - No paid features or premium options available
ModelFreemiumBilling cadenceMonthly
Notes

The app is completely free to use. No subscription, in-app purchases, or advertising are present.

lapse.com
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeSoftware
Software
Core offering1 text field

Lapse is a free iOS mobile application that turns an iPhone into a vintage disposable camera, capturing photos with a true film aesthetic via a Lock Screen shutter widget. Photos are held for a 24-hour "development" delay and then shared within a friends-only private photo journal, with no follower counts, no ads, and no data selling. The app is distributed via the Apple App Store under an invite-only Early Access model.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 of 2 values shown
  • Top-10 ranking in U.S. App Store for photographic apps
+1 more record
Product and service1 record
1Lapse App
CategorySocial Photo Sharing App
Description

A free iOS mobile application that turns an iPhone into a vintage disposable camera with a film aesthetic, connected to a friends-only private photo journal with a unique 24-hour photo "developing" delay. Targeted at Gen-Z individual consumers seeking authentic, pressure-free photo sharing with close friends.

Scale indicator4 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Peers8 records
1BeReal
TypeDirect peer
Description

Social photo app emphasizing authentic, unfiltered daily sharing with friends at random times. Closest direct competitor to Lapse in the 'anti-Instagram' Gen-Z social photo space, with near-identical anti-curation brand positioning.

2Dispo
TypeDirect peer
Description

Disposable camera app (David Dobrik) that simulates the experience of using a film camera with delayed photo development. Direct competitor offering an essentially identical core product experience to Lapse.

3Poparazzi
TypeDirect peer
Description

Social photo app built on the concept that friends post photos of you, eliminating selfies and follower counts. Shared 'friends not followers' positioning with Lapse, targeting the same authenticity-seeking Gen-Z segment (now defunct).

4VSCO
TypeDirect peer
Description

Photo and video app with strong aesthetic/filter focus and a creator community. Comparable as a photo-centric social app with a curated, non-mainstream feel targeting Gen-Z users seeking alternatives to traditional platforms.

5Locket Widget
TypeDirect peer
Description

Widget-based app letting friends send live photos directly to each other's home screens. Comparable as an intimate, friends-only photo sharing experience with strong Gen-Z adoption and viral word-of-mouth growth mechanics.

6Snapchat
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Major social platform with ephemeral photo/video messaging, Stories, and AR filters, dominant among Gen-Z. Broad incumbent competing with Lapse for Gen-Z social photo attention, with massive distribution and AR camera capabilities.

7Instagram
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Meta's flagship photo and video sharing platform with billions of users. The mainstream social media incumbent that Lapse explicitly positions against with its 'friends not followers' brand messaging.

8Threads
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Meta's text and media conversation app that has rapidly scaled to hundreds of millions of users. Competes with Lapse for Gen-Z social engagement time, with significantly larger distribution and Instagram integration.

Market position
Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment2 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile2 records

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI capability2 records

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Feature4 records

Each record includes

Title, Differentiator, Description, Source

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
Profiles2 records

Each record includes

Name, Designation, Designation category, Overview, Profile commentary, Source

No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds3 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors7 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Lapse

Social Photo Sharing Appbeta.lapse.app

Lapse is a London-based iOS social photo-sharing app that simulates a disposable film camera with 24-hour photo development, serving Gen-Z users seeking authentic, friends-only photo sharing without ads or data monetization.

Lapse firmographics

Firmographics
Name
Lapse
Legal name
Lapse Ltd
Website
https://beta.lapse.app
Company type
Private
Founded year
2021
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Short description
Lapse is a London-based iOS social photo-sharing app that simulates a disposable film camera with 24-hour photo development, serving Gen-Z users seeking authentic, friends-only photo sharing without ads or data monetization.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Where Lapse is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
London
HQ country
United Kingdom
HQ region
Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

Lapse business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Software
Cost components
Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

  1. Free App with No Monetization: Lapse is currently a free application with no advertising and no data monetization. The company has explicitly stated they do not run ads or sell user data. Revenue generation strategy for the future is not disclosed in available sources.

Pricing tiers

ModelBillingPrice
FreemiumMonthlyFree tier - No paid features or premium options available

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Lapse product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Lapse is a free iOS mobile application that turns an iPhone into a vintage disposable camera, capturing photos with a true film aesthetic via a Lock Screen shutter widget. Photos are held for a 24-hour "development" delay and then shared within a friends-only private photo journal, with no follower counts, no ads, and no data selling. The app is distributed via the Apple App Store under an invite-only Early Access model.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Lapse App A free iOS mobile application that turns an iPhone into a vintage disposable camera with a film aesthetic, connected to a friends-only private photo journal with a unique 24-hour photo "developing" delay. Targeted at Gen-Z individual consumers seeking authentic, pressure-free photo sharing with close friends.

Quantifiable outcome

  • Top-10 ranking in U.S. App Store for photographic apps
  • +1 more outcomes

Companies that use Lapse

Customer profile

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Lapse technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Lapse partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators4 records

Lapse competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

  • BeReal: Social photo app emphasizing authentic, unfiltered daily sharing with friends at random times. Closest direct competitor to Lapse in the 'anti-Instagram' Gen-Z social photo space, with near-identical anti-curation brand positioning.
  • Dispo: Disposable camera app (David Dobrik) that simulates the experience of using a film camera with delayed photo development. Direct competitor offering an essentially identical core product experience to Lapse.
  • Poparazzi: Social photo app built on the concept that friends post photos of you, eliminating selfies and follower counts. Shared 'friends not followers' positioning with Lapse, targeting the same authenticity-seeking Gen-Z segment (now defunct).
  • VSCO: Photo and video app with strong aesthetic/filter focus and a creator community. Comparable as a photo-centric social app with a curated, non-mainstream feel targeting Gen-Z users seeking alternatives to traditional platforms.
  • Locket Widget: Widget-based app letting friends send live photos directly to each other's home screens. Comparable as an intimate, friends-only photo sharing experience with strong Gen-Z adoption and viral word-of-mouth growth mechanics.

Broad incumbents

  • Snapchat: Major social platform with ephemeral photo/video messaging, Stories, and AR filters, dominant among Gen-Z. Broad incumbent competing with Lapse for Gen-Z social photo attention, with massive distribution and AR camera capabilities.
  • Instagram: Meta's flagship photo and video sharing platform with billions of users. The mainstream social media incumbent that Lapse explicitly positions against with its 'friends not followers' brand messaging.
  • Threads: Meta's text and media conversation app that has rapidly scaled to hundreds of millions of users. Competes with Lapse for Gen-Z social engagement time, with significantly larger distribution and Instagram integration.

Market position

Customer concentration

Lapse social profiles

Digital presence

Lapse financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Lapse leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Lapse funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Lapse M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lapse

What does Lapse do?

Lapse is a free iOS mobile application that turns an iPhone into a vintage disposable camera, capturing photos with a true film aesthetic via a Lock Screen shutter widget. Photos are held for a 24-hour "development" delay and then shared within a friends-only private photo journal, with no follower counts, no ads, and no data selling. The app is distributed via the Apple App Store under an invite-only Early Access model.

Is Lapse a public or private company?

Lapse is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.

When was Lapse founded?

Lapse was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is Lapse based?

Lapse is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does Lapse make money?

One revenue line is on record: free App with No Monetization.

Who are Lapse's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are BeReal, Dispo, Poparazzi, VSCO and Locket Widget. Broad incumbents are Snapchat, Instagram and Threads.

Does Lapse have an API?

No public API is recorded for Lapse.

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Contact sales
Live signals
VentureRadarNew Funding Rounds in "Photo Sharing"Multiple startups involved in photo sharing, productivity, and event management have announced new funding rounds. Notably, myFirst raised over $8 million in Singapore, and Lapse secured $30 million for its authentic photo-sharing app.Lifehacker'Lapse' Is a Twist on Photo Sharing AppsLapse is an iOS-only photo sharing app that emphasizes private, friends-only sharing with a feature where photos 'develop' hours after being taken, encouraging users to be more present. The app has attracted millions of users and requires invitations and lock screen widgets for setup. Its unique approach may influence future social media trends.Pulse 2.0Lapse: Gen-Z Focused Photo Sharing App Company Secures $30 MillionLapse, a Gen-Z focused photo-sharing app, has secured a $30 million Series A funding round co-led by Greylock and DST Global Partners. The investment validates the company's rapid growth, having become the most downloaded app in the Apple US and UK stores, with existing investors GV, Octopus Ventures, and Speedinvest also participating. The funds will be used to expand engineering teams and continue product development based on user feedback.PetaPixelApp That Turns Your Phone into an ‘Old-School Camera’ Raises $30MLapse, a camera application designed to mimic the experience of old-school film photography, has secured an additional $30 million in funding. This investment highlights the growing market for stripped-down social media platforms that prioritize authentic interactions over curated content, similar to competitors like BeReal. The funding round was co-led by Greylock Partners, who identified a gap in the market for apps focused on friends rather than followers.BusinessCloudLapse captures £24m to build ‘new kind of social media’Photo-sharing app Lapse has raised £24 million in Series A funding co-led by Greylock and DST Global Partners, with participation from existing investors GV, Octopus Ventures, and Speedinvest. Founded by brothers Ben and Dan Silvertown, the app allows users to take a 'roll' of 36 photos that are developed together the next day to emulate the experience of film cameras. The company plans to use the funds to expand its engineering and technical teams as it seeks to create a new kind of social media focused on living in the moment.WebrazziFotoğraf paylaşım uygulaması Lapse, 30 milyon dolar yatırım aldıLapse, a photo-sharing application based in the United Kingdom, secured $30 million in Series A funding led by Greylock Ventures and DST Global Partners. The company intends to use the capital to strengthen its technical infrastructure and enhance user experience, bringing its total funding to $42 million with a valuation of $150 million. Founded in 2021 by brothers Ben and Dan Silvertown, Lapse focuses on providing a nostalgic, film-camera-like aesthetic for digital photo sharing.PaGen-Z Favorite Photo-Sharing App Lapse Closes $30 Million in Series A Funding to Build a New Kind of Social MediaLapse, a friends-focused photo-sharing app, has closed an oversubscribed $30 million Series A funding round co-led by Greylock and DST Global Partners. The investment validates the app's rapid growth, which included reaching #1 in US and UK app stores and capturing 100 million monthly memories. Lapse plans to use the funds to expand its engineering team and continue developing its authentic, unedited photo-sharing experience.FinSMEsLapse Raises $30M in Series A FundingLondon-based photo-sharing app Lapse has raised $30 million in Series A funding, led by Greylock and DST Global Partners. The company plans to utilize the capital to implement product updates driven by user feedback and to expand its engineering team. Founded in 2021, Lapse reported capturing 100 million real moments monthly at its peak.YahooLapse, the app turning your phone into an old-school camera, snaps up $30MLapse, a startup offering an analogue-style camera experience on smartphones, has secured $30 million in new funding co-led by Greylock and DST Global Partners. This investment brings the company's total raised capital to over $42 million with a valuation of approximately $150 million, following previous seed funding in 2021. The funds will support feature enhancements, including video capabilities and refined photo treatments, while the company currently maintains a non-advertising monetization strategy.YahooInstagram Competitor Lapse Raises $30 Million From InvestorsLapse, a London-based photo-sharing app positioned as an Instagram alternative, raised $30 million in a funding round led by Greylock Partners and DST Global Partners. The startup plans to use the capital to hire across product development, engineering, and design while adding new features to its platform, which has millions of users, particularly teenagers. The company is betting that Instagram's shift toward entertainment over social connection creates an opening for competitors, though it faces the same acquisi-tion-or-copy threat that has felled previous challengers like BeReal and Dispo.