Video Blocks

VideoBlocks, now operating as Storyblocks, was established in 2009 by Joel Holland. The company's origin is tied to Holland's personal experience as an independent filmmaker when he encountered the high cost of stock footage for a project. Realizing it was cheaper to fly to a location, shoot the footage himself, and then sell the clips, he began listing his own footage on eBay. This initial venture, known as Footage Firm, evolved from selling DVDs to an online platform and was rebranded as VideoBlocks in 2011. The core idea was to offer premium creative content that was affordable for everyone. Holland's journey started with a year off after high school, traveling the country to shoot b-roll footage, which formed the company's initial library. After studying business at Babson College, he committed to building the company, initially from his parents' basement.

Storyblocks operates on a subscription-based model, a pioneering approach in the stock media industry. This model provides users with unlimited downloads from its extensive library for a flat annual or monthly fee, making high-quality content more accessible. Revenue is generated primarily through these subscriptions, which are offered in various tiers catering to different needs, from individual creators to large businesses. The company serves a wide range of clients, from freelance creatives and YouTubers to major corporations like NBC, MTV, and National Geographic. The target market consists of the 'mass creative class'—videographers, marketers, and digital storytellers who require a steady stream of diverse media assets.

The platform provides royalty-free stock video, audio, and images. The library includes millions of HD and 4K video clips, After Effects and Premiere Pro templates, motion backgrounds, music tracks, sound effects, photos, illustrations, and vectors. A key benefit is the straightforward, royalty-free license that allows for both personal and commercial use, with downloaded assets being available to the user forever, even after a subscription is canceled. In 2017, VideoBlocks rebranded to Storyblocks to reflect its expansion beyond video into images and audio, unifying its various media libraries under one brand. The company was acquired by private equity firm Great Hill Partners in June 2020.

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