FlipGrid, a video discussion and learning startup acquired by Microsoft four years ago, rebrands to Flip to take on Google and Apple

We covered FlipGrid in July 2018 after the educational video software startup got acquired by Microsoft. At the time of the acquisition, FlipGrid had 20 million users and a $1,000 a year fee per school. But Microsoft said it plans to make the service completely free for schools as part of its push to battle Google and Apple in the classroom.

Fast forward four years later, Flipgrid has broadened its servivces beyond education and now offers anyone the ability to share videos and build communities, including families, friends, and creators, all for free. To date, more than 7 billion videos were created or shared on its platform from 190 countries around the world.

Founded in 2014 by Charlie Miller, Jim Leslie, Phil Soran, Flipgrid started out as Vidku, a video education platform to enable active, social learning in classrooms and enterprises around the world.  In 2016, the tech startup changed its name to Flipgrid as part of product strategy shift.

Then on June 28, 2022, Flipgrid announced it was rebranding to Flip to reflect the company’s new focus and product shift. The company dropped the “grid” from its name to become Flip. Along with the name change, the company also acquired a matching domain name, Flip.com prior to the branding. In a blog post announcing the rebrand and new and upcoming features, Flip said:

“Flipgrid is now Flip! We have a new name, a new look, and even a new mascot, Smubble, but we’re still the same product you know and love.”

Explaining the reason for the name change, the company said:

“Why the change? Over the past decade, you took the technology we built and made it something more than we ever imagined. Your innovation and creativity inspired us to make our video discussion tool better than ever. Flip is for the classroom, your home, and wherever you want to take it because learning happens everywhere.”

The company also took to social media to announce the name change. In a post on Twitter, Flip wrote, “Meet Flip, the same product you love, but with a fresh new look. ✨ #FlipFest”

https://twitter.com/MicrosoftFlip/status/1541592939549409281

Below is another video about the rebrand.

Currently, the Flip platform is available via a web browser, or through a mobile app on iOS and Android devices. The company said it plans to release new features in the coming months. It also plans to add new camera and camera expressions.