Kittl Raises $36 Million in Series B Funding to Disrupt Adobe’s Creative Suite
Just over a year after raising $11.6 million, Kittl has secured another significant funding round of $36 million in Series B led by IVP, with some existing investors participating once again. This latest investment brings the total amount raised by the Berlin-based startup to an impressive figure.
The Rise of Graphic Design Tools: A Market in Flux
Kittl’s focus on creating a graphic design tool that can be used directly within a web browser without requiring any installation has drawn comparisons with two prominent players in the market: Adobe and Canva. While Adobe has been a dominant force in the creative industry for decades, offering industry-leading apps such as Illustrator and Photoshop, Canva has disrupted this landscape by providing easy-to-use design tools that cater to users on the lower end of the spectrum.
Challenging the Status Quo
Recent reports suggest that Canva is raising a $1.5 billion round at a valuation of $26 billion. This news comes as Kittl’s co-founder and CEO, Nicolas Heymann, emphasizes the need for a more powerful design tool that offers a broader feature set than Canva while still providing users with access to their actual graphic files.
The Middle Ground
Kittl is positioning itself firmly in the middle of the market, aiming to build a design tool that outshines both Adobe’s legacy applications and Canva’s more limited offerings. With its free account option and subscription-based model for accessing all product features, Kittl seeks to simplify the creative process by combining various tools into one platform.
The Design Process Redefined
Heymann highlights the typical workflow of a designer: working in multiple tools, using stock footage, creating graphics files, browsing Pinterest for inspiration, exporting designs, uploading them to WeTransfer, and sharing with clients – all while navigating feedback loops. Kittl’s vision is to streamline this process by integrating these features into a single tool.
Key Features and AI-Powered Capabilities
Kittl boasts a comprehensive suite of tools and features that cater to designers’ needs:
- Built-in illustration library and copyright-free photo collection: Providing users with a wide range of starting points for their designs.
- Design templates: Contributed by the community, these templates offer a solid foundation for various design projects.
- AI-based features: Including an AI background remover, text-to-image generator, and more.
The integration of AI-powered capabilities is particularly noteworthy, as it sets Kittl apart from its competitors. These advanced tools enable users to create professional-grade designs with ease, saving time and enhancing their overall creative experience.
Conclusion
Kittl’s latest funding round of $36 million underscores the startup’s commitment to disrupting Adobe’s Creative Suite and Canva’s more limited offerings. By providing a robust design tool that combines multiple features into one platform, Kittl is poised to capture a significant share of the graphic design market. As the creative industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Kittl adapts and innovates in response to user needs.
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