ArtLifting is a technology company.
ArtLifting has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round.
ArtLifting has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ArtLifting has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ArtLifting's investors include 2048 Ventures, 8-Bit Capital, Alpaca VC, Altari Ventures, Amazon Alexa Fund, Azimuth Ventures, B Capital Group, Bessemer Venture Partners, BoxGroup, Broadway Angels, Creandum, Eclipse Ventures.
ArtLifting is a for-profit public benefit corporation, not a traditional technology company, that operates an online platform connecting artists with disabilities and housing insecurity to corporate buyers for original artwork, prints, wall coverings, and related products. It serves socially conscious businesses like Amazon, Google, Bank of America, and Pottery Barn, solving the problem of economic exclusion for underrepresented artists by enabling them to earn income—55% of profits per sale—while helping companies create inclusive spaces with high-quality, story-driven art.[1][2][3][5] Founded in 2013, ArtLifting has grown to support over 190 artists across 35+ states, generating at least $6.5 million in artist earnings, with 450+ corporate clients and an NPS score of 9.8/10 from partnerships including 50 Fortune 500 companies.[1][2][5][6]
ArtLifting was founded in 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts, by siblings Liz Powers—a Harvard sociology graduate and artist—and Spencer Powers—a Boston College and MIT Sloan alumnus.[1][2][4] The idea emerged from Liz's volunteering at homeless shelters, where she ran art programs to combat isolation among people with disabilities or housing challenges; artists expressed loneliness but produced saleable work hidden away, inspiring a marketplace to lift them economically.[1][2] Early traction came quickly: starting with four artists, media coverage highlighted initial sales of thousands of dollars in the first week, leading to seed funding of $1.1 million by 2015 and expansion to 150+ artists.[4]
ArtLifting rides the wave of social impact investing and ESG (environmental, social, governance) trends in corporate America, where businesses seek authentic diversity initiatives amid stakeholder demands for purpose-driven procurement.[2][5] Timing aligns with post-pandemic emphasis on hybrid workspaces needing meaningful decor, plus growing awareness of disability inclusion—artists' stories humanize offices, influencing culture in lobbies of tech giants like Google and LinkedIn.[1][3] By leveraging an online platform for nationwide reach, it democratizes the $50B+ corporate art market for marginalized creators, setting a model for tech-enabled social enterprises that blend e-commerce with mission-driven supply chains.[1][2]
ArtLifting's momentum—$6.5M+ in artist earnings, expanding artist network, and sticky Fortune 500 partnerships—positions it for scaled growth via tech enhancements like AI curation or global expansion.[1][5][6] Rising ESG mandates and inclusive design trends will fuel demand, potentially evolving it toward full tech platform status with data-driven artist matching. Its influence may grow by inspiring copycats, amplifying underrepresented voices in tech ecosystems and redefining corporate art as a force for equity—proving talent transcends circumstance, just as its marketplace first envisioned.[2]
ArtLifting has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Seed in October 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2015 | $1.0M Seed | 2048 Ventures, 8-Bit Capital, Alpaca VC, Altari Ventures, Amazon Alexa Fund, Azimuth Ventures, B Capital Group, Bessemer Venture Partners, BoxGroup, Broadway Angels, Creandum, Eclipse Ventures, ENIAC Ventures, ff Venture Capital, FJ Labs, Floodgate, Gotham Gal Ventures, Harrison Metal, IPD Capital, Ligature, NextView Ventures, Otherwise Fund, RRE Ventures, Sherpalo Ventures, Zetta Venture Partners, Alexander Ljung, Alex Tang, Ben Kosinski, David Chang, Eric Quidenus-Wahlforss, Jason Lemkin, Matt Macinnis |