UK-based startup PROSPECT 100 has successfully raised €700k to build the go-to platform for co-creation; a digital space which allows brands to connect and collaborate with creative talent around the world.
The funding round was co-led by pan European fund BlackWood Ventures, London-based QVentures, and Austrian entrepreneur Ferdinand Ahorner. A number of notable angel investors also joined the round, such as famous designer Sean Wotherspoon, Guy Holmes of Gut Records and Snappt and Adam Perrin of Masomo Games and Marshmallow.
“I think it’s extremely important for platforms like PROSPECT 100 to exist. There’s so much talent hidden in our world, it’s great seeing people like PROSPECT 100 giving a platform for them to be noticed,” said Sean Wotherspoon.
Since its inception, PROSPECT 100 has hosted co-creation opportunities with organisations like Paramount, Kering, Swatch and even the Ukrainian Government. With this new round of investment, PROSPECT 100 will develop its platform to become the home for co-creation, enabling more brands to co-create with creatives from all over the globe, and focus on growing their already thriving community.
PROSPECT 100 was co-founded in 2020 during the Covid lockdown by Adam Flanagan, Alexandre Daillance and Harry Beard. The trio looked to provide a platform that enabled creatives from anywhere to keep creating during the pandemic.
“We believe the best ideas can come from anyone, anywhere,” commented Harry Beard, the 23-year-old co-founder and CEO of PROSPECT 100. “Lego has pioneered the way with their platform ‘Ideas’ enabling them to co-create new products alongside their consumers. Co-creation is a way for brands to speak with their consumers through the language of design, providing opportunities to really deserving – often underrepresented – talents. I believe every organisation will put co-creation at the heart of their strategy in the coming years, and PROSPECT 100 is the home of co-creation.”
The creator economy is expected to grow over $200 billion by 2026. The realm of design specifically has had some big winners in recent years, most notably Figma who agreed on a deal with Adobe for $20 billion in 2022.
PROSPECT 100’s co-creation platform connects corporates, charities and public organisations with a deep community of freelance and professional creatives. The platform allows organisations to crowdsource creative designs driving engagement. Having already worked with a number of the world’s biggest organisations, and hosting a community of 10,000s of young global creative talents, PROSPECT 100 aims to become one of the biggest platforms for creativity in the world.
“We are excited to be leading PROSPECT 100’s first funding round, having closely followed the team’s progress for the past 3 years. Through democratising access to innovation we look forward to seeing PROSPECT 100 revolutionising how brands and designers work together and truly believe that they have the right team in place to deliver on this promise,” added Abbas Kazmi of BlackWood Ventures.
Harveer Bharaj, Principal at QVentures, said: “We’re excited to back the PROSPECT 100 team as they build the go-to destination for organisations seeking to tap into a growing community of freelance creative talent. Through PROSPECT 100’s cutting-edge co-creation platform, organisations like amfAR and Paramount have successfully unveiled new products and brand designs that deeply resonate with their target audiences. We’re looking forward to supporting the team as PROSPECT 100 revolutionises how organisations approach design.”
Most recently, PROSPECT 100 ran a campaign for amfAR’s debut NFT collection to raise funds for AIDS research. The global design competition was judged by a high-profile panel of Baz Luhrmann, Jeff Koons, Kate Moss, Kendall Jenner, Peggy Gou, Natalia Vodianova, J Balvin, Alton Mason, Millinsky, and Francesco Ragazzi.
