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Elevate Magazine
January 30, 2025

Kiwi Software Firm Lumin Reaches 100 Million Users

lumin
Photo source: Lumin

New Zealand-based document management company Lumin has hit a major milestone, surpassing 100 million users worldwide. The Christchurch-founded firm, which began as a simple PDF editor, has evolved into a comprehensive document collaboration platform, now used by major global companies such as Netflix, Uber, and Airbnb.

From a Dorm Room to a Global Platform

Lumin was founded in 2014 by Max Ferguson, an engineering student who first conceived the idea while working on Christchurch’s post-earthquake rebuild. Frustrated by the inefficiencies of traditional document workflows, Ferguson saw an opportunity to create a cloud-based solution. He later refined the concept while studying artificial intelligence at Stanford University, launching the first version of Lumin from his dorm room.

The platform gained rapid traction, reaching one million users within a month of its launch. Over the years, Lumin expanded beyond simple PDF annotation to offer a full suite of document management tools, including digital signatures and AI-powered automation.

Strategic Growth and Key Innovations

A major turning point came in 2019 when the company underwent a complete platform rebuild. Ferguson described the move as a risky but necessary investment, nearly exhausting company funds in the process. However, the gamble paid off—Lumin’s new version attracted millions of additional users, shifting the company from an ad-supported free tool to a profitable business.

Lumin’s growth accelerated further during the COVID-19 pandemic as remote work drove increased demand for digital collaboration tools. By 2020, the platform had 20 million users, and by the end of 2024, it had reached the 100 million mark.

The company’s expansion has been fueled by new product innovations, including Lumin Sign for e-signatures, Templates Discovery to streamline workflows, and the Lumin Sign API, allowing integration with other business software.

AI-Powered Features and Market Expansion

Lumin’s recent success has been largely attributed to its investment in artificial intelligence. The platform now integrates AI-driven document automation, improving efficiency for users ranging from individual professionals to large enterprises. The company has also strengthened its presence in the corporate sector, with major businesses adopting Lumin’s solutions for their document management needs.

Ferguson has emphasised that Lumin’s focus on simplicity and usability has been a key factor in its adoption. “People were just so fed up with USB drives, Microsoft Word crashing, and manually passing file copies around. […] We didn’t have the luxury to get sidetracked by flashy features that didn’t matter. Even today, when we’re developing a new tool, it starts with the question: How will this actually make people’s work easier?” he said in a blog post.

New Zealand’s Growing Tech Influence

Despite its global expansion, Lumin remains headquartered in Christchurch, with additional teams in Vietnam and the Philippines. Ferguson has expressed a strong commitment to keeping the company rooted in New Zealand, citing the country’s growing tech sector as a promising economic driver.

“I see Christchurch as a really good hub. We’ve got a great university here, great other educational facilities and there’s a lot of people that are looking for opportunities in tech,” he said.

Ferguson also highlighted the importance of inspiring younger generations to consider careers in technology, noting that traditional career paths such as medicine, law, and engineering still dominate career discussions. “We’re trying to spread the word that, in the modern world, going niche in terms of your profession and going into things like tech could be a really great career option,” he said.

Looking Ahead

As Lumin enters its next phase of growth, the company is exploring further AI-driven innovations and expanding into new markets. While its core mission remains making document collaboration seamless, Ferguson believes there is still much more to achieve.

“In a way, we’re just getting started,” he said, “There’s so much left to build, and now we have the resources to do it right.”

With a strong foundation, a rapidly growing user base, and continued investment in technology, Lumin’s next milestone may not be far off.