Garrett Gee is one of the founders of Scan Inc., a company focused on the QR code industry from a new and innovative angle. The company began out of an idea Garrett and his classmates came up with for a project in his entrepreneurship course at BYU. They decided to put their idea into action, which ended up making them millionaires. Scan is a downloadable app that allows people to make their own QR codes that can link to more than just a website. It also allows you to scan a barcode to check a price on an item. With a wider variety of codes you can scan, this company was immediately very popular to multiple large investors. The app blew up as soon as Garrett and his team launched it, and he went on Shark Tank to pitch his idea. Although he did not secure a deal with a shark, the additional publicity for his business only made it that much more popular. Garrett ended up selling Scan Inc. to Snapchat for $54 million.
These young and successful entrepreneurs are perfect examples of true innovators. They saw that the QR code system had more potential than it was being used for, so they decided to do something about it. Although they very well could have moved on from this idea, especially since it was an idea for their class, I am inspired by their follow through with the project. I am especially inspired by Garrett because he demonstrated his determination throughout the building of the company through his passion and drive to “connect the real world with the digital universe”.
I have learned that we have the power to “change the world from our college dorm rooms”, as Garrett said. With technology advancing, it could be any second that a million dollar idea comes to us. When approaching innovation, it is important not to limit yourself by self doubt because the world truly is at our fingertips.
It is really moving that it started out as a project and it turned them into being millionaires. I love his passion for the QR code project and his drive to connect the real world with the digital universe.
This is a very cool story! I am impressed that such a huge idea came from a very small beginning. It is quite inspiring to think that a school project can turn into a multimillion dollar company. It’s crazy to think that a school project made students millionaires! I hope I can find an opportunity like this!
This story just proves that a hunch or a simple idea can turn into a business if you are willing to take a risk. Garrett is obviously satisfied with how his decisions to pursue this idea and develop and pivot into more innovative opportunities to serve a need.
I think it is so cool that Garrett saw that QR codes had a greater potential than they were currently being utilized for, so he stepped in to solve this problem and expand their use! I also think it is interesting how rather than only thinking about the idea as a class project, he took the initiative to pursue the idea and it turned into a very successful business.
Quite a cool story to have. Imagine just coming up with a random idea and capitalizing on it to become millionaires! That’s awesome! It’s quite a unique idea as well to be able to create your own bar code and even more. Also, it’s quite an accomplishment to be bought by Snapchat, another very successful and well-known social media platform. It’s very inspirational as an avid entrepreneur eager to start something, even in a college class.