Catch+Release

About Catch+Release

Catch+Release operates as a creative technology company that provides a platform for licensing content from the internet for commercial use. Founded in 2014 by Analisa Goodin, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Goodin's background as a photo producer for top advertising agencies revealed a critical inefficiency and legal risk in how brands were sourcing content, which directly inspired the formation of Catch+Release. The company aims to streamline the process of discovering and licensing high-quality, authentic content created by everyday users, positioning itself as a bridge between user-generated content and commercial advertising.

The business serves advertising agencies, production companies, and major brands that are looking to incorporate authentic, real-world footage and imagery into their campaigns. Catch+Release operates within the advertising and content marketing industries, offering a solution to the growing demand for genuine visual media that resonates with modern audiences. Its business model is centered on a technology platform combined with a service. Clients can submit creative briefs, and the company's team, aided by its proprietary software, scours the internet—from social media platforms to video archives—to find suitable content. Revenue is generated through the fees associated with clearing and licensing this content for commercial use.

The core offering is a platform that manages the entire content licensing workflow. This includes discovery, curation, clearance, and licensing of visual content. A key feature is its robust clearance process, which handles the complexities of securing legal rights from original creators, including model and property releases, ensuring the content is brand-safe and commercially viable. This end-to-end management distinguishes it from standard stock photo agencies by providing access to a vast, untapped library of user-generated content that would otherwise be difficult to source and license legally. The platform leverages AI-powered tools to accelerate the discovery and curation process, enabling creative teams to execute campaigns more efficiently. In March 2023, the company announced a $14 million Series A funding round led by Accel, with participation from Cervin Ventures and Astia Angels, to further develop its AI capabilities and expand its market presence.