Partner Article

A Shoreditch-based personalised printing startup has been acquired by imaging giant Canon

London-based personalised printing platform Kite.ly, which helps ecommerce companies provide printed merchandise, has been acquired by Canon Europe.

The deal, which is for an undisclosed sum, will see the Shoreditch tech firm become part of the imaging giant’s ‘ecosystem’ of print businesses, and joins the likes of Lifecake, which provides an interactive timeline of baby photos, and irista, Canon’s cloud-based iamge management platform, in its Digital Services stable.

Launched in 2014, Kite.ly has worked with the likes of Lenovo and Polaroid to provide end-to-end customised printing services from smartphones and other devices, allowing users to order prints or other items through the startup’s product distribution network.

Kite.ly Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Charlie Carpenter, said that confirmation of the acquisition was part of his team’s ‘relentless ambition’ to provide a ‘personalised print solution’ on mobile across the world.

He commented: “We are excited to combine our innovative technology platform with Canon’s digital services portfolio to lead a new print era together.

“We are inspired that Canon shares our vision to become the internet’s print button, embedded into any imaging app or website.

“Kite.ly hosts hundreds of app clients around the world and together with Canon we will be able to enhance their service, to help them generate new revenue and engage with their users in a much more meaningful way.”

Alberto Spinelli, Senior Director of Digital Services at Canon Europe, explained that the acquisition of the London business was part of Canon’s overarching focus on expanding its suite of digital services, and added that the move would allow its B2B partners to explore new business opportunities as a result.

He said: “There is a fast-growing trend of consumers who want to shop for customised products and do it in an easy way from their mobile devices.

“The combination of Canon’s high quality printing technologies and Kite.ly’s easy-to-use solutions will create an unrivalled portfolio of print products, accessible to customers everywhere through existing and new imaging apps.”

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