cizucu
禅居庵 × cizucu『Capture your Emotion』| Challenge #8.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | N/A | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Based in Kyoto, Japan, cizucu Inc. operates a community-focused stock photo platform under the same name, which was established on November 24, 2022. The company was founded by Yusei Ota, who serves as the CEO and CTO. Ota, born in 1998, graduated from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Economics in 2021 and began app development as a hobby in college. His journey includes developing popular applications like 'SnapDish' and co-founding and serving as CTO for the coffee app company, KOHII Inc., in 2021 before establishing cizucu.
The cizucu platform functions as a hub connecting creators with companies and brands globally. It operates on a multifaceted business model, primarily earning revenue through the licensing of photos submitted by its creator community. For corporate clients, the service offers a streamlined process to find authentic visual content. A key feature is the 'Photo Request' function, which allows businesses to describe their specific image needs and receive tailored suggestions from creators, a process designed to reduce search time by up to 80%. Companies can also sponsor themed photo contests to generate brand-specific imagery. Photo licenses are available for purchase starting from ¥1,650 (tax included), with creators receiving a commission of over 45%.
For creators, the platform is an outlet for their work, available via iOS and Android apps as well as a web interface. Beyond simply selling photos, cizucu fosters a community environment. The service provides features like photo contests with unique themes, an editorial magazine for inspiration, and interest-based 'circles' for user interaction. The platform reached a milestone of over 13,000 monthly active creators and a cumulative submission of over 240,000 photos by mid-2024. The company has successfully secured funding from several venture capital firms and partners, including MTG Ventures, Z Venture Capital, and the Kyoto University of the Arts Art & Biz Fund.
Keywords: community stock photo, photo licensing, creator economy, user-generated content, stock photography platform, brand-creator collaboration, photo contests, digital asset marketplace, visual content, creative community, photography app, Yusei Ota, stock photo marketplace, photo request service, corporate visual branding, creator monetization, Kyoto startup, digital media, content creation, social photography platform