PenSnap

PenSnap is the first dedicated AI-powered scanner for fountain pens and luxury writing instruments. Collectors, heirs, and thrift/estate-sale hunters take a single photo and receive an accurate identification within seconds — brand, model, variant, production era, nib material and size, and filling system — along with a market-value estimate based on real sales data. Unlike generic "identify anything" apps, PenSnap goes deep into one niche: it distinguishes a Montblanc 146 from a 149, a Pelikan M600 from an M800, and surfaces real marketplace sale prices instead of guessed values. A core architectural principle separates identification from valuation: the AI handles only identification (its strength), while prices come from a cached lookup keyed on model and condition, guaranteeing consistent, repeatable valuations rather than the fluctuating numbers that plague competitor apps. Built-in collection management, a wishlist with price alerts, and price tracking turn PenSnap from a one-time tool into a daily-use app. The backend follows a secure architecture where the AI API key never touches the client — every scan runs Client → Supabase Edge Function → AI API → back — enabling centralized rate-limiting, caching, and cost control at sub-cent per scan via a two-tier model strategy.