Creative marketplaces and platforms have increasingly recognized the immense value of the data they possess over recent years. This strategic asset can either be leveraged internally for developing proprietary AI models or monetized by licensing it to external AI laboratories.
Wirestock, a company that previously facilitated photographers in distributing and selling their work through stock photography services such as Shutterstock, has opted for the latter approach.
In 2023, the company strategically pivoted to become a dedicated data provider, now supplying comprehensive datasets encompassing images, videos, design assets, and gaming and 3D content to various AI labs. Wirestock reports that its platform has successfully onboarded over 700,000 artists and designers who undertake diverse tasks for data collection, operating much like freelancers on platforms similar to Fiverr.
Mikayel Khachatryan, Wirestock’s co-founder and CEO, affirmed the company's transparency regarding this shift, noting that artists were given the option to opt out of the data supply venture. In 2022, the platform hosted over 100,000 photographers. While Khachatryan did not disclose the exact number of individuals who transitioned to become AI data providers, he stated that "the majority" chose to do so.
“Initially, a lot of our deals were just selling what we had off the shelf, like our existing library. But then it turned into a lot of custom requests for content and data, and that created new opportunities for creators, and the platform just took off,” he explained.
The startup announced on Thursday that it has successfully secured $23 million in Series A funding, earmarked for scaling its new data supply business. The funding round was spearheaded by Nava Ventures, with additional participation from SBVP (co-founded by Sheryl Sandberg), Formula VC, and I2BF Ventures.
Khachatryan revealed that Wirestock currently furnishes multi-modal data to six of the leading foundation model developers, though he refrained from naming these clients. He also disclosed that the company presently boasts an annual run-rate revenue of $40 million and has already disbursed $15 million to its network of contributors.
The transition necessitated significant internal adjustments for the startup, including retraining some teams for detailed data annotation and labeling to meet AI labs' specific requirements. Furthermore, Wirestock established dedicated sales and enterprise teams to effectively engage with hyperscalers and actively sought to acquire more creative assets, particularly in burgeoning areas like 3D modeling.
Wirestock actively recruits new contributors through email marketing campaigns and referral programs. Photographers, videographers, and illustrators can apply to provide data via its website, but they are required to complete an unpaid assessment task for quality verification before acceptance. The company confirms that it employs a hybrid approach of AI and human reviewers to evaluate all submitted work on the platform.
The demand for data supply services is currently exceptionally high, driven by the intense race among AI labs to continuously refine and improve their models. This burgeoning market has seen companies like Surge, Scale AI, and Mercor achieve multi-billion-dollar valuations rapidly due to the need for diverse datasets. A new wave of startups, including Micro1, Human Archive, and Human Native AI, are also actively collaborating with prominent AI model makers.
Wirestock aims to specialize in providing data specifically for models that support creative applications, such as image and video generation. The company is also exploring expanding into other modalities, including audio and music.
Freddie Martignetti, founder of Nava Ventures, commented that his fund had been actively seeking a startup that demonstrated innovation in data procurement and refinement even before discovering Wirestock.
"I think Wirestock has a deep understanding of what foundational models and hyperscalers need in terms of multi-modal data to start creating more human-like systems. The cornerstone of our thesis was that multi-modal data will be increasingly important, not just to create images or videos, but for models to complete real-world tasks," Martignetti conveyed to TechCrunch.
Wirestock presently employs 60 individuals and intends to utilize the new funding to expand its teams in research, engineering, and product development roles. Additionally, the company is developing enterprise software designed to facilitate collaboration on datasets among AI labs.
This latest funding round elevates the startup's total capital raised to approximately $26 million.
The Editorial Staff at AIChief is a team of professional content writers with extensive experience in AI and marketing. Founded in 2025, AIChief has quickly grown into the largest free AI resource hub in the industry.