Companies

Bannerbear

API for generating images, videos and PDFs from branded templates.

APIImage generationVideo automationBootstrappedOpen startup

ActiveSource [5]Source [11]Source [9]Last verified Oct 2, 2026

About Bannerbear

Bannerbear lets businesses design templates and then generate on-brand images, PDFs, animations and videos from them through an API, no-code integrations such as Zapier, Airtable and WordPress, or AI agents via an MCP server.Source [5]

It sells monthly plans, listed at $49, $149 and $299 a month in October 2026, metered in API credits for renders and AI credits for features such as background removal and transcription.Source [6]

Bannerbear was run as an open startup with public metrics and milestone posts at $10K, $20K and $50K MRR; it now shares only selected metrics. Yongfook's X bio lists the business at $81K MRR in October 2026, a self-reported figure.Source [7]Source [8]Source [9]

The company says it is headquartered in Singapore with a fully remote team. Its terms name the operating company as Twenty Four Twelve Systems Pte. Ltd.Source [2]Source [3]

Watch

How to Use the Bannerbear API to Automate Image Generation (Beginner's Guide) by Bannerbear on YouTube

What happened

Jon Yongfook launched Bannerbear as a banner generator in January 2020 and in March 2020 refocused it on a REST API for template-based image generation. He grew it without outside funding as an open startup that published its metrics, and it later added video, PDF and workflow APIs. It is operating today and in 2026 released V5 and an MCP server for AI agents.Source [1]Source [10]Source [7]Source [11]

Timeline

  1. 2026-09Released V5, rebuilt largely with AI coding agents, and positioned the product for AI agents via MCP.Source [11]
  2. 2023-07Founder reported $50K MRR (self-reported).Source [8]
  3. 2022-06Founder reported $40K MRR in a post on technical mistakes (self-reported).Source [4]
  4. 2021-12Founder reported growth from $10K to $27K MRR over a year of marketing (self-reported).Source [4]
  5. 2021-05Founder featured on the Indie Hackers podcast after passing $10K MRR.Source [12]
  6. 2020-10Reached $6,109 MRR after splitting time 50% coding and 50% marketing (self-reported).Source [10]
  7. 2020-03Refocused on a REST API and shut down its Shopify app.Source [10]Source [1]
  8. 2020-01Launched on Product Hunt as a banner generator.Source [10]Source [1]

Products and brands

  • Image API: Generates images from templates via API.Source [5]
  • Video API: Generates branded videos with title cards, overlays and subtitles.Source [5]
  • PDF API: Generates single or multi-page PDFs from templates.Source [5]
  • Workflow API: Chains rendering steps such as resizing, subtitles and music.Source [5]
  • MCP Server: Lets AI agents run Bannerbear workflows.Source [5]Source [11]
  • Integrations: Zapier, Airtable, WordPress, Make and 50+ other connectors.Source [5]

How it makes money: Monthly subscription plans metered by API and AI credits.Source [6]

Leadership

Jon YongfookFounderSource [2]Source [8]Since 2020

Funding and financials

MRR (self-reported on X, Oct 2026)
$81K, per Jon Yongfook's X bioSource [9]
MRR (self-reported on company blog, Jul 2023)
$50KSource [8]
MRR (self-reported, May to Oct 2020)
$6,109Source [10]

People on Founded, and where they went next

1 person on record, connected to 8 other companies.

PersonHereAlso built
Jon YongfookFounder2020 to nowTalkshow2019Shut downTropic2019Shut downHyperjump2019Shut downTech Jobs Asia2018Shut downMontage2018 to 2019AcquiredPromomatic2018 to 2019AcquiredZipsell2018Shut downBeatrix2013Status unknown

Sources

  1. Bannerbear API, blog.yongfook.com, 2020-04-25. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  2. About Us, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  3. Terms and Conditions, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  4. Journey to $1 Million ARR, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  5. API for Automated Image and Video Generation, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  6. Pricing, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  7. Open Startup, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  8. 7 Lessons Growing a Bootstrapped SaaS to $50K MRR, Bannerbear Blog, 2023-07. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  9. Jon Yongfook (@yongfook) profile, read via api.fxtwitter.com, X. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  10. A Bootstrapped SaaS Journey to $10K MRR, Bannerbear. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  11. How to Pivot Your SaaS Company in the Age of AI, Bannerbear Blog, 2026-09. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  12. #208: How this Indie Hacker Blew Past $10K MRR with Jon Yongfook of Bannerbear, Indie Hackers podcast (Apple Podcasts), 2021-05-25. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.

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