With the rise in popularity in digital content in recent years, the demand for stock images has increased at a commensurate rate. And while there are now plenty of websites that provide a wide variety of stock images for just about every need (with more popping up all the time), few companies have stepped forward to change the way we source stock images.
However, that’s about to change, as Draagu, a Barcelona, Spain-based startup launched by Joan Bardeletti that is democratizing the stock image industry by allowing users to sell any (even unpublished) smartphone image. That means that just about anyone can become image providers - whether they are professional photographers or not. And while stock images may seem like a very niche market for a tech company to launch in, think again, as Draagu has raised €360K for their unique service, and the company shows no signs of slowing down.
Since graduating from the Barcelona Founder Institute in 2016, the company has made considerable waves in the global tech startup scene. Earlier this year, Draagu won the III Prix Entrepreneur Tech award that was presented by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Barcelona, in partnership with French Tech. Currently, they have more than 650,000 images available on its platform from users across 50 countries, with thousands of downloads every month. Even more recently, the company featured in El Referente’s prestigious guide of the 50 most innovative startups in Spain. And let’s not forget about the €360K in funding Draagu has raised across two angel rounds.
While Draagu’s success is most impressive, this is no doubt due to the company’s founder and CEO, Joan Bardeletti. Prior to launching Draagu, Joan graduated from Ecole centrale de Lyon, one of the top ten engineering schools in France, with a two year experience in Italy leading to an additional Master's degree from Politecnico di Torino. Having spent time as a top photographer for Panos Pictures, Joan married his passion for photography with his exemplary experience in engineering to launch Collateral Creations, a production agency that merged analytics expertise and visual creativity. And now that Draagu has taken off, it’s no wonder that Joan was recently listed as one of the “Top Most Influential People” by the Barcelona Post.
Draagu works like this: users download the smartphone app and receive alerts when one of their pictures matches a client’s search. Users then have the opportunity to submit the picture that best matches the client’s needs, and if their image is picked, the user receives payment for their picture.
What makes Draagu so unique is just how simple it is, as users don’t have to worry about things like picture editing or meeting quotas. And to ensure that a user’s privacy is maintained, Draagu doesn’t doesn’t copy or publish your images without your permission, and only the pictures a user submits to a client’s alert become visible.
Because of the substantial attention and traction Draagu has attracted in just a couple years, be sure to keep your eye on this company as they continue to establish themselves as one of Spain’s top startups.
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