Alpha'a

Alpha'a is a B2B marketplace that connects businesses with a global network of over 7,000 visual artists for tailor-made art collections. The company, founded in 2014 by Manuela Seve and Renata Thomé, aims to increase transparency and accessibility in the art market. Seve, the CEO, has a background in finance, which influenced her to create a more transparent art ecosystem after observing similarities between the art market and the oil market of the 1960s. Thomé, the CCO, brings extensive experience from working with major New York galleries and auction houses like David Zwirner and Christie's.

The company's primary offering is its online, community-based platform that provides custom art collections for clients across various sectors including hospitality, tech, interior design, and real estate. Notable clients include Airbnb, West Elm, and the Four Seasons. Alpha'a operates on an inventory-free model, printing each piece on-demand within the client's country to reduce shipping costs and streamline the supply chain. Clients fill out a questionnaire to receive a pre-curated digital collection and can customize the size and medium of the artwork.

In a significant evolution of its business, Alpha'a launched alphaa.io, a platform that utilizes blockchain technology and NFTs to authenticate, certify, and manage the ownership of both physical and digital artworks. This system, dubbed "NFT for REAL," creates a digital ledger for physical pieces, providing an immutable record of provenance and allowing artists to set and receive resale royalties. A QR code on the back of each artwork links to the alphaa.io platform, enabling direct and swift online ownership transfers.

Alpha'a is also committed to social impact, with over 50% of its represented artists being female, a stark contrast to the 13% average in the broader art market. The platform also uses a crowdsourcing model, allowing the community to vote on new works, thereby democratizing the curation process and making art more accessible to new collectors. The company has received funding from investors such as Metaprop, EOS VC, Gaingels, and Particle X.

Keywords: art marketplace, blockchain art, NFT authentication, art investment, B2B art sales, contemporary art, digital art, provenance, art certification, Manuela Seve, Renata Thomé, art technology, proptech, art curation, physical asset tokenization, art ownership, resale royalties, ESG, community engagement, immersive experiences