Artisse, one of many AI picture creation applications that use uploaded selfies and prompts to create photographs, acquired $6.7 million in venture investment after AI selfies became popular. As with other apps, Artisse users upload photographs of themselves to teach its AI, then utilize a text or image prompt to make new photos of themselves in different situations, poses, and styles. Artisse, unlike its competitors, focuses on photorealism, so it may replace professional photography.
Artisse uses its own proprietary model and open-source best practices and technologies. Artisse was the #1 photo app on Google Play in the U.S., U.K., Japan, South Korea, Canada, and Australia due to its hyper-realistic photographs.
The startup boasts over 200,000 app downloads and 43 million social media impressions. According to its website, people have generated over 5 million photographs. 
William Wu, a McKinsey & Co. and Oaktree Capital investment and strategy veteran, bootstrapped Artisse. In September, the entrepreneur told Eltrys that seeing how many Instagram and dating profiles had “perfect” photographs encouraged him to design an AI tool. However, he learned that personal photography required time and skill to achieve those outcomes. He wanted to make similar photographic techniques more accessible to smartphone users.
Even though AI photos take minutes, training Artisse takes 30–40 minutes longer than rivals. This method produces more realistic photos than others on the market, according to Wu.
Wu believes this will distinguish Artisse.
Midjourny excels in landscapes and design, but when it comes to people, there are many aspects to consider, and you need to train for each one.
Artisse’s model considers race, face structures, skin color, lighting, camera type, angle, body shot, scenery, and more.
Plus, Wu says, “There’s an incredible amount of work that’s required in terms of data collection, data tagging, and knowing what makes a good camera photo versus not.”
Wu says Artisse’s AI learned from public-domain photos.
“A lot of this is not about volume; it’s actually a lot about image quality,” he explains.
Like many similar programs, Artisse suffers with body proportions and skin tones, especially if users input a reference photo of a slimmer person. Remini, another viral app, was criticized for making women skinnier or have bigger chests.
Artisse creates real-life images to distinguish itself from Remini and Lensa.
The startup’s AI model is flexible enough that users might change their race in their images, which is inappropriate.
Wu denies advocating this or that this is how most people use the product.
Instead, Artisse members share images of themselves on social media, especially ones they couldn’t take otherwise, like ones of them next to a beautiful automobile or wearing high fashion. Artisse’s early users include models, influencers, and corporations employing AI photography for marketing.
The software started by giving away 25 images, then charged 20 cents per snap. That attracted casual tech users—Artisse estimated 60–70% of users are “light” users who try the app once. About 4,000 of the 200K downloads have become members, the app’s new business mechanism.
Three monthly tiers provide 25 to 370 photographs at $7, $15, and $40.
Artisse expects to reach $2.5 million in ARR this month after quadrupling revenue to $1 million in ARR in December 2023.
“Revenue is growing pretty fast, and the payback period is relatively low,” Wu says. “I see AI photography as a new category that should be similar, if not bigger, than photo editing apps,” he says.
The London Fund, a strategic investor in high-growth firms with consumer businesses, led the startup’s $6.7 million seed round.
Wu says the inward investment made sense since the fund has an influencer marketing arm that could sell the app. Others can join the round.
The 22-person team wants to use AI beyond consumer photography. It’s testing virtual fitting room tech for online shopping, where you can model garments on yourself in different fits and postures, and a group photo function that might enable you to “pose” with a friend or celebrity (with permission). Other alternatives include shopping for AI images and printing them.
Artisse has an iOS and Android AI app.
