Snap acquires Saturn, a social calendar app for high school and college students

Snap has announced its acquisition of Saturn, a calendar application designed specifically for high school and college students. This acquisition, confirmed by the company to TechCrunch on Friday, aims to enhance students' ability to manage their schedules and share them with peers. While the financial specifics of the transaction remain undisclosed, Saturn is expected to continue functioning independently as a standalone app. Almost the entire team from Saturn, consisting of nearly 30 full-time employees, will be joining Snap as part of this deal. Although Snap has not revealed detailed plans for their new acquisition, a representative indicated that Saturn's expertise in scheduling will be integrated into Snapchat in innovative and exciting ways. Founded in 2018, Saturn has transformed the traditional calendar experience by incorporating social features. The app allows students to connect with classmates and easily view which classes their friends are attending, eliminating the need to exchange multiple images of different schedules. Users can share their schedules not only for classes but also for various activities such as practices, meetings, and games, enabling them to coordinate plans seamlessly. According to Snap, Saturn is utilized by a significant number of educational institutions, with support reported in 80% of U.S. high schools. The company believes that Saturn's success stems from its ability to make scheduling a more engaging and interactive experience. Together, Snap and Saturn aim to foster deeper real-world connections among students. In a noteworthy funding round back in 2021, Saturn raised $44 million from prominent investors including General Catalyst, Insight Partners, and Coatue, along with contributions from high-profile individuals such as Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff, and Ashton Kutcher, among others.