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Singapore picture library Klaud9 launches to address shortage of Asian stock images

An image library tailored for the Asian market is going live this week.

Klaud9

Called Klaud9, the resource was created in response to the dearth of high quality stock images for Asian markets. Co-founder and CEO Isabel Gonzales told Mumbrella that brands and agencies want more natural images rather than the cheesy fodder usually available from stock libraries.

The company has been formed by Gonzales, formerly Singapore GM of online travel agency Skiddoo and director of e-commerce at Go Bear, chief product officer Matthew Teo, formerly of Singapore production house Calibre Pictures, and developer Joan Ilari as CTO.

At a recent event, Gonzales illustrated the inspiration behind Klaud9 with an example of the same stock image used by two different advertisers, MCIS Insurance and UDA Holdings Berhad, in an April edition of the Straits Times this year.

April 2016 edition of Straits Times

Klaud9 goes into competition with the likes of Shutterstock, Getty, Singapore-based Lensy, launched by former ad agency executives three years ago, and Malaysia-based 123RF.

The cost of images ranges from S$9.99 (US$7.12) to S$250, depending on how big the picture will be used. Klaud9 goes to market selling pictures by volume rather than a monthly subscription model more common among rivals.

Klaud9 is attempting to populate its library by running sponsored photography competitions through its Facebook page, and is also producing a batch of photographs through its own talent network and its relationships with production companies across the region.

The firm has around 10,000 images now, and aims to double the number through the competitions, which are slated to go live next week.

Klaud9 has raised almost $400,000 from private investors over the last few months, and will be pitching to Dentsu Aegis Network’s newly launched accelerator programme in December.

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