Twenty20 Stock Photos
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Stock photography |
| Predecessor | Instacanvas |
| Founded | April 2013 |
| Fate | Acquired by Envato Elements in 2019; shut down in 2022 |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Royalty-free stock photographs |
Twenty20 functioned as a marketplace driven by crowd contributions, offering a collection exceeding 45 million royalty-free stock photographs.
Origins
The enterprise was established in April 2013 under the name Instacanvas, initially specializing in printing Instagram images onto canvas materials. By October 2013, it underwent rebranding to Twenty20, redirecting its business model toward a crowdsourced stock photography platform focused on social media marketing campaigns.
After completing a Series A investment round, Twenty20 revealed in February 2015 that its photo library had grown beyond 45 million images. The platform officially launched out of beta the following month.
Business Model
Photographs were contributed by both hobbyist and professional photographers through a dedicated application. Users had the opportunity to propose images for inclusion in the "Signature Collection" or participate in themed contests where community votes determined winners. Selected images received enhanced exposure by featuring prominently on the app's main page.
The company prioritized genuine visuals that resonated with millennial audiences, with frequently favored subjects including healthy living, contemporary office environments, and everyday life moments.
Twenty20 offered advertisers flexible licensing options, including single-image purchases and subscription plans. Photographers could join without fees and earned revenue shares, with compensation rates surpassing those of many industry competitors.
Acquisition and Discontinuation
In 2019, Envato Elements purchased Twenty20 with the intention of augmenting its existing smaller stock photo inventory. Nonetheless, on July 31, 2022, Envato decided to shut down Twenty20 and opted against merging its curated Signature Collection into their platform. Only a limited number of Twenty20 contributors received invitations to transition to Envato’s service.