Building a career as an artist in today’s digital age comes with a unique set of challenges, from vying for attention in a highly saturated market to competing against AI-generated content. TEEZR, a newly launched apparel marketplace, was created to help artists push the boundaries of their own creativity and share their work with a consumer base looking to embrace their unique styles.
TEEZR’s online solution connects artists directly to shoppers who can order original and personalized artwork printed on apparel such as T-shirts and sweatshirts. The company’s main goal is to give artists more control and flexibility over their businesses. TEEZR works to ensure its verified artists are paid fairly and can earn higher commissions on their designs. More than 15,000 independent artists worldwide have signed up for the platform so far.
“At TEEZR, our mission is to empower artists—not only by offering a marketplace but by transforming how artists are paid and supported in the merchandise space,” Divya Murakonda, TEEZR founder and CEO, wrote Built In. “We aim to be a trusted, high-quality alternative, providing artists with the tools they need to build their brands, manage commissions and engage with their audiences.”
The startup also makes a point of emphasizing transparency, ethics and trust within its community. It doesn’t allow artists to use AI, image generation or misappropriated artwork on its platform in an effort to help all artists maintain the integrity of their original creations.
TEEZR’s marketplace allows shoppers to search for art across various categories and themes, displaying multiple artists and the products they have available for purchase. The platform also showcases different artists on its main homepage every week for increased exposure.
Once an artist creates a profile on TEEZR’s platform, they gain access to the main dashboard where they can design and publicly upload their products. The platform displays artists’ product and pricing information for buyers and grants artists full control over their rates. TEEZR also includes a chat feature that allows buyers and artists to communicate directly about products and commission. Once they agree on a price, artists receive 25 percent of the payment upfront.
“Our goal is to continuously refine our platform, establishing it as the go-to hub for artists to easily and efficiently monetize their work,” Murakonda said.
The company leverages direct-to-garment printing technology, aiming to ensure its products are long-lasting, high-quality and able to sustain multiple wears and washes. While it’s currently focused on U.S. consumers, TEEZR hopes to eventually branch out into international markets like Europe, Japan and Australia, where there is increasing demand for print-on-demand and custom merchandise.
The startup’s team of under 10 people is composed of marketing specialists, a creative lead and several developers. As it continues to scale and expand its reach, TEEZR could consider hiring new talent to support its growing business, according to Murakonda.
