The time has come to bring you yet another Hungry Startup of the month. For June, we’re proud to present Aviary, a company that has taken the photo editing sphere by storm. Aviary recently hit 50 million users and introduced a one-of-a-kind iOS selective color editor dubbed Splash. Now, the company has its sights set on Japan, eager to develop a presence with its already thriving Asian market. For an inside peek at what’s fueling their team, check out the interview below.
What is Aviary?
Aviary provides developers with a robust, customizable photo editor that can be quickly plugged into consumer-facing apps on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and HTML5. In other words, we help make photos look awesome, both through our own showcase app and a network of over 4000 partners.
If Aviary was a dessert, what would it be and why?
If Aviary was a dessert, we would be hot fudge. We’re sweet and simple. We can stand alone, but we also pair really well with others.
What’s the latest widespread craving or snacking trend to hit your office?
Probably our most unique office craving is our obsession with Guayaki Yerba Mate. It’s a South American tea that’s almost as strong as coffee. Guayaki sponsored our flagship hackathon, Photo Hack Day, and we all fell in love. We brew mate lattes every morning, and we stock a variety of canned, carbonated yerba mate drinks. If you stop by our office, we’ll probably make you try it.
Why did Aviary decide to provide meals for its employees? How has it shaped your company culture for the better?
Aviary’s team is like a family to a degree that’s almost comical. We love spending time together; we even hang out after work and on weekends. As the company grew, we felt that a daily meal as a team would be the best way to stick together. It has worked wonders. Lunches are split between educational presentations, productive meetings, and really silly games. Mostly silly games though.
Would your team rather…construct a fort out of salami logs and marmalade OR play ultimate frisbee with a piece of naan?
That’s a tough question. We’re pretty huge fans of fort construction here: adjustable desks are a great building block for fort building. However, with our deep love of Indian food and the beautiful sun we’ve been getting lately, we’d probably have to vote for the naan frisbee.
For the latest and greatest, follow @Aviary on Twitter, like Aviary on Facebook, or read their company blog.
