Scape

Market position

Scape was described as working on location accuracy beyond the capabilities of GPS, with technology characterized as newly feasible due to recent advances in computer vision. TechCrunch framed the Facebook acquisition as a fit with the acquirer's investment in next-generation platforms including VR and AR, and as an example of U.S. technology companies acquiring U.K. machine learning and AI talent at an early stage.

The stated differentiator was camera-based positioning accuracy far exceeding GPS alone, achieved by referencing cloud-hosted, city-scale 3D maps built autonomously from pre-existing 2D imagery rather than requiring purpose-built capture.

Technology

The core technology was an AI-based 'vision engine' that combined existing 2D images and videos — automatically determining which images depict the same buildings or features and using differing viewing angles to derive depth — to build large-scale 3D models of cities. The approach was described by analogy to how chickens gain depth perception by moving their heads to view objects from different angles. At query time, a device sends a single camera image, which is matched against Scape's cloud-hosted maps, and the Visual Positioning System returns the device's precise location and orientation via API.

Go-to-market

Distribution was via developer tooling: the Visual Positioning Service API and the ScapeKit SDK, initially made available to select developers in London, with a public SDK release to London AR developers planned as of July 2019 and further cities to follow.

Application developers building augmented reality experiences (entertainment, architecture, utilities, city planning, advertising, navigation), plus emerging industrial users in micromobility, autonomous vehicles, mobility, logistics and robotics.

Geography

Headquartered in London (Techspace Shoreditch); its first completed city map and initial developer availability were in London, with additional cities stated as planned.

History

The company operated from Techspace Shoreditch in London and was profiled there in July 2019, at which point it had completed a 3D model of London and was serving select developers in the city. By the start of 2019 it had raised $8 million in seed funding. In February 2020 a Companies House update showed Facebook Inc. holding majority control (over 75%) of the company, with Scape's venture capital board representatives replaced by two Facebook executives; TechCrunch reported the price could be about $40 million, though full terms were not disclosed.

Risks & controversies

TechCrunch characterized the acquisition as another, potentially concerning, instance of U.S. technology companies acquiring U.K. machine learning and AI talent at an early stage. Sources also conflict on the company's founding year (2016 versus 2017).