Venmo is an online payment service founded in 2009 by two American students and bought by PayPal, the world’s most well-known online payment company, in 2013. Through the app, two or more users can send funds to each other. Venmo started selling actual MasterCard debit cards to users in 2018. The card enables ATM access as well as overdraft protection. But let’s take a breather here because, for the purpose of this article, we will go over the history, meaning, and evolution of the Venmo logo.
Let’s get the ball rolling…
Venmo Logo: Overview
The Venmo logo is an excellent example of a well-crafted visual identity; it satisfies the fundamental need for an iconic emblem. That’s readability, distinctiveness, adaptability, and memorability in a nutshell. In practice, these characteristics have made it influential and noticeable.
The Venmo logo is divided into two parts: a wordmark and a graphic. The logotype was designed in lowercase characters to emphasize its image. The font used is a bold sans-serif with a bespoke letter—V. The identical letter appears creatively in the middle of a rounded square.
Furthermore, the letter and square harmony constituted the graphic portion of the logo. They stand out in light blue and white. This offers a sense of loyalty, safety, and tranquility. Interestingly, it has been eliciting these sentiments since its initial release in 2009.
Read Also: DELL LOGO: Meaning, What It Is Best Known For, Font, and History
Venmo is now owned by PayPal, one of the world’s most respected financial businesses. She paid $800 million to Braintree for the then-four-year-old company. It’s worth noting that Braintree bought the brand from the creators a year ago for $26.2 million.
The idea for Venmo came from the need to set up a way to pay for a friend’s yogurt business. Andrew Kortina, the brand’s co-founder, made this disclosure. Iqram Magdon-Ismail, whom he met at the University of Pennsylvania, is the other partner.
In 2020, the Venmo platform will process around $159 billion in transactions. This figure should give you an indication of how popular it is. It’s also a platform for peer-to-peer mobile file transfer. It also ensures simple, quick, dependable, and secure cash payment.
Finally, Venmo is made up of two words: vendere and mobile. Vendere means to sell in Latin. As a result, you can certainly state that it denotes selling via mobile phones. Furthermore, the name is brief, easy to remember, and distinct. The name was chosen based on these factors.
The Evolution Of The Venmo Logo And Its History
A wise businessman rarely changes an influential logo. You may also label the Venmo logo as one. The company’s visual ambassador has not been updated in over a decade. As a result, it has maintained its light blue and white personality. As a result, it has become a very well-known logo.
Let us investigate it further without wasting time.
2009—Present:
The Venmo logo is modern and appealing. It is divided into two sections: a graphic and an inscription. The graphic element consists of a rounded square with a bespoke letter V. The lone letter is designed with a flat left bar and a curved right bar. This gives it a sense of pride and individuality. The logotype appears in lowercase letters beneath the stylized insignia. In an electric blue and white color palette, the Venmo logo stands out.
Why Does the Venmo Logo Function?
The Logo Is Appealing:
Which of the two logos, a boring one or a beautiful one, would you prefer? The choice is plain and simple. You wouldn’t waste time on a dull logo. As a result, the Venmo logo is a winner. Yes, its eye-catching design has piqued the interest of users. As a result, it has earned the trust and loyalty of its clients.
The Logo Is One-Of-A-Kind:
Anything distinctive stands out. The same is true in marketing. As a result, your logo should be excellent in order to distinguish your company from competitors. Fortunately, the Venmo logo sticks to this fundamental reality. As a result, it has a distinct visual identity that easily cuts through the clutter.
The Logo Is Straightforward:
The Venmo logo is approachable. It employs fewer features to ensure that its audience comprehends its message. Furthermore, the graphic elements are applicable to its service offering. As a result, the logo is easy to see, process, and remember. Always keep in mind that detailed logos are ineffective.
The Logo Is Memorable:
A memorable logo is one that your customers remember. Aim for simplicity and individuality to create a memorable logo. Fortunately, the Venmo logo has similar characteristics, producing a lasting impression. Remember that your brand should not be forgotten.
The Logo Can Be Scaled:
The quality of your design is likely to be influenced by two factors: size and medium. As a result, it’s a good idea to go for a minimalist logo design. Because it is adaptable, the Venmo logo can be used in a variety of advertising mediums. But, once again, keep in mind where your customers congregate.
Elements of Venmo Logo Design
The company’s logo is made out of a square, a letter, an inscription, and two soothing colors. The designer created a beautiful logo by combining these design components. In a nutshell, it communicates the brand’s message, philosophy, and personality to its audience.
Now, because each visual element contains an emotion, let’s explore them.
Venmo Logo Design And Symbols
A Square:
The online payment network Venmo features a square protecting the word V. Surprisingly, the single letter refers to the brand’s name. The rounded square represents terrestrial matter and actuality. It represents unity, stability, and order in most cultures. It represents security and justice once more.
Colors of the Venmo Logo
A Blue Color:
The color blue represents the Venmo brand’s personality. It depicts the square and the company name in a soothing manner. It’s the most popular color among financial brands, so it’s a good option. Blue is a primary color that represents liberty, trust, intuition, and creativity. Again, the sky’s color conveys confidence, stability, and harmony.
A White Color:
Venmo uses white as its official color to convey its second emotion. It clearly captures the image of the stylized letter inside the square. White represents goodness, purity, and humility in design and in some cultures. It also represents cleanliness, safety, and trust.
What Is the Font of the Venmo Logo?
The Venmo logo employs a simple font to convey its distinct personality. It’s a bold and modern sans-serif font that looks similar to Helvetica Neue. Nonetheless, with a refined letter—V. Also, the lowercase letters remind me of Ronnie ExtraBold Italic and Klein Condensed ExtraBold Italic.
Is Venmo a Trademarked Product?
The Venmo visual ambassador is not a work of the public domain. On October 25, 2016, its owners filed and registered it. The trademark office assigned it the registration number 5067594. Karen A. Webb, an attorney, oversaw the registration.
What Is the Meaning of the Name Venmo?
Andrew Kortina, one of the co-founders, said that they wanted a short name that was easy to say, spell, and buy on GoDaddy. With these characteristics in mind, they chose the portmanteau name “Venmo.” Surprisingly, the first three letters were derived from vendere, which means “to sell” in Latin. The remaining letters were then sent from mobile, conveying the brand’s platform.
Can I Make Use of the Venmo Logo?
The simplest answer is that you can use the Venmo logo. However, because it is intellectual property, it is prudent to seek permission from its owners. Keep in mind that the company has branding strategies that you must adhere to. These are the guidelines:
- The Venmo logo should not be used inline within a block of text.
- You should not use the shortened Venmo logo in areas where Venmo is unfamiliar.
- The Venmo logo should always be used in its official blue and white colors.
- You should leave enough space between the Venmo logo and any other graphics.
- You should make sure the Venmo logo is at least 5 inches (48 pixels) wide.
- Never use the logo when making attributions; instead, use the text—powered by Venmo.
- Venmo is owned by which company?
PayPal paid $800 million for Braintree, which included Venmo, in 2013. PayPal, as most people are aware, is an American financial behemoth that operates an online payment system. The company was founded in 1998 by five visionary partners: Peter Thiel, Luke Nosek, Max Levchin, Elon Musk, and Yu Pan.
Why is the Venmo logo so well-known?
Nobody can deny the brand’s or its logo’s fame. However, there is no impact unless there is a cause. So there are a few underlying factors that contribute to the logo’s visibility. For starters, people are drawn to it because it is a free and convenient way to send and receive money.
Second, its primary millennial users enjoy splitting bills with their friends. Yes, the app allows them to easily share almost any fee with their loved ones. Consider bills such as rent, movies, dinner, and transportation.
Third, Venmo users can make payments even if their Venmo balance is insufficient. Surprisingly, the company can recover the difference through savings accounts, credit cards, or debit cards.
Again, the brand stands out due to its aggressive marketing strategy since 2015. The logo has gained popularity due to its use of the slogan “Pay with Venmo.” Furthermore, word-of-mouth and outdoor advertising have boosted its image. That’s why it’s trending on various social media platforms.
How Does Venmo Function?
To use Venmo, you must first create an account via the mobile app or the website. After entering your personal and banking information, you’re ready to use the platform. You can now pay any user using their username, email address, or phone number. There is also no transaction fee.
However, using a credit card incurs a standard 3% fee. Again, withdrawals are free and usually take a few days. However, you can shorten the time by paying a small fee for a quick transfer. You can also use the Venmo platform to split bills with your friends and family.
Are you unsure how to proceed?
Consider the following scenario: You and your friends go out to eat in a cafeteria. After the meal, you can split the bill with your friends. Each person sends their share to you here, and then you can pay the cafeteria in full. Isn’t it simple?
You can use the same method to pay for movies, dinner, tickets, transportation, and other services. However, keep in mind that this payment would come from three different sources. These are the balances of your Venmo, debit or credit card, and bank account.
Who Created Venmo?
Venmo was founded in 2009 by two friends, Andrew Kortina and Iqram Magdon-Ismail. They did, however, meet as freshmen at the University of Pennsylvania eight years before. Both began their university careers as computer science students.
Kortina, on the other hand, changed his major to philosophy and creative writing. While still in college, they started their first business, My College Post. It was a student classified website. Although this business did not succeed, it provided valuable experience.
They worked at various companies after graduating in 2005 before founding Venmo. Iqram, for example, worked at Ticketleap, whereas Kortina worked at Bit.ly. Their common desires and experiences, however, bring them together in the creation of Venmo.
Raising funds for the startup was initially a huge challenge. Some investors, for example, thought it wasn’t a billion-dollar idea. But it would be a trillion dollars, Iqram quickly added. They eventually attracted funders, including angel investors.
Venmo’s Brief History
Andrew Kortina and Iqram Magdon-Ismail founded Venmo in 2009. It’s a mobile payment app from the United States that allows users to transfer money. Originally, it was intended for friends and relatives who wanted to split bills. For example, the bills may include dinner, a movie, rent, a ticket, and so on.
In 2001, the two partners met at the University of Pennsylvania. Kortina studied philosophy and creative writing, while Iqram majored in computer science. But before they started Venmo, they worked together on a number of projects and jobs.
This increased their coding knowledge while also providing them with real-world business experience. For example, they created a classified website called My College Post. It was also their first project. Kortina also worked at Bit.ly, and Iqram at Ticketleap. These are all technology firms.
Venmo was inspired by three different events. First, an attempt to assist a friend in opening a yogurt shop revealed how bad traditional sales software was.
The second incident occurred at a local jazz concert. They considered purchasing an MP3 of the show via text messages.
Read Also: PIXAR LOGO: Meaning, What Makes It Unique and History
Third, the incident that prompted them to act occurred when Iqram visited Kortina. Iqram suddenly realized he had forgotten his wallet. So his friend took care of him for the weekend. Surprisingly, this resulted in the creation of Venmo, a mobile app for money transfers.
The prototype was SMS-based and extremely simple. They did, however, update it to a smartphone app, making it more modern and convenient. After overcoming the initial obstacles, the duo raised $1.2 million in May 2010. RRE Ventures led the company’s seed funding round.
Braintree paid $26.2 million for the company in 2012. Then, in December 2013, PayPal paid $800 million for Braintree. Venmo was automatically integrated into PayPal as a result of this purchase. Venmo began collaborating with select merchants in 2016, including Munchery and Gametime.
Read Also: ORACLE LOGO: Meaning, Font and How It Got Its Name
Venmo collaborated with MasterCard in 2018. The agreement allows users to use a MasterCard debit card on the MasterCard network. They also have access to ATMs and overdraft protection, with a daily ATM withdrawal limit of $400. But, once again, they can use it anywhere MasterCard is accepted.
Venmo launched a plan in 2020 to allow its users to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other cryptocurrencies in select international markets. Meanwhile, the company announced plans to allow people to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrencies on the platform in April 2021.
Venmo is now a household name and a verb among its 52 million users.
In Conclusion
Venmo is a popular payment app in the United States that facilitates money transfers. Despite the fact that it was founded by Andrew Kortina and Iqram Magdon-Ismail, PayPal now owns it. The app and its logo were created in 2009. The logo is appealing, simple, one-of-a-kind, and memorable.
Venmo means “to sell via mobile application.” To create the name, the founders combined the words vendere and mobile. Vendere means to sell in Latin. They also chose the name because it is short, easy to spell, unique, and available on GoDaddy.
It’s worth noting that Venmo has attracted a number of competitors. As a result, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Zelle Pay are widely available on the market. Meta, Popmoney, and Cash App are a few others. Despite their presence, Venmo has a massive following.
Related Articles
- How to Send Money Online Instantly in 2022(+ Top 10 money transfer apps)
- How To Add Money To Venmo: Best Easy Guide (Updated)
- Venmo Account Frozen: Best 2022 Stress-free Solutions (Why is Venmo Freezing?)
- HOW DOES PAYPAL MAKE MONEY: Business Models & History
- HOW DO YOU USE VENMO: What It Is and How Use It