We developed an AI-powered postal solution that eliminated physical stamps and labels, securing £425,000 at a pre-investment valuation of £2M.

By combining AI, code-based technology, and mobile interfaces, Stamp Free aims to eliminate the need for physical stamps and simplify postal processes for individuals and businesses alike. Their solution uses unique, trackable codes (Digicodes) as a digital alternative to conventional postage, enabling a more flexible, scalable way to send items.

GearedApp was engaged to partner with the Stamp Free team to build the first phase of their product — a launchable MVP that could be taken to postal partners and early customers to show viability and support future growth.

Stamp Free’s idea was disruptive but technically demanding.

The concept required a mobile app that could generate unique, identifiable codes in place of stamps, ensuring that every code was trackable and secure, even under concurrent usage at scale. This involved designing complex logic to avoid duplication and to protect against system abuse, crucial for postal systems that process thousands of items at once.

A second challenge was building a carrier-facing scanning and validation app capable of reading handwritten Digicodes using computer vision. The system needed accuracy and reliability to replace standard barcodes, facilitating seamless handovers from sender to carrier and across logistical touchpoints.

Lastly, the platform had to include a web dashboard and backend services to allow admin and partners to monitor parcel journeys, verify deliveries, and manage the entire ecosystem reliably and at scale — all while delivering this MVP in a way that could drive commercial conversations with postal companies and investors.

We worked collaboratively with the Stamp Free team over approximately five months to design and deliver a complete MVP for their postal disruptor.

At the core was the mobile app for senders, enabling users to generate a unique code (a Digicode) that could be written on a parcel or letter instead of a stamp or printed label. Each code was built to be unique, trackable, and secure even with high concurrent usage.

We also developed a carrier-facing app that used a computer vision-based algorithm to scan and validate handwritten Digicodes throughout the delivery lifecycle. This transformed handwritten capture into machine-readable tracking data, integrating smoothly with backend systems.

To support both sides of the process, we built a web dashboard and backend services that gave administrative users and partners visibility into parcel flows, validation statuses, and delivery milestones. This backend logic ensured data was tracked end-to-end, while presenting insights and controls via a coherent interface.

Together, these components created a launchable product that Stamp Free could use to demonstrate its technology to postal organisations, partners, and early users.

Prior to this work, there was no digital alternative to physical stamps or labels that could be written by hand and validated with high confidence.

The delivered MVP enabled users for the first time to generate digital postage codes on a phone, write them on physical parcels, and have those same codes scanned by carriers in motion. This removed reliance on printed stickers, costly label printers, or traditional stamps, streamlining the end-to-end process for senders and carriers alike.

For carriers, the introduction of computer vision-based scanning and real-time validation meant parcels could be processed with confidence even as they moved through logistics networks — delivering a more efficient and modern experience compared with legacy barcode systems.

For Stamp Free as an organisation, the product became a tangible demonstration of their patented AI-powered vision, supporting commercial engagement and investment conversations that would have been difficult without a working MVP.

With the MVP validating the core postal concept, Stamp Free is now focused on phase two of the product, expanding beyond MVP functionality to support broader carrier integrations, scale validation, and wider commercial roll-outs.

Future development will likely include tighter carrier and retailer partnerships, expanded support for parcels and returns workflows, and continued refinement of the AI handwriting recognition to ensure even smoother tracking and validation at scale.

By building on the launchable foundation, Stamp Free aims to make handwritten digital codes commonplace for sending and returning items, transforming traditional postal experiences into modern, efficient, and customer-centric journeys.