Banlek

What Banlek does

Banlek is a Brazilian-founded photography marketplace platform established in 2020 by Jonathas Guerra and Sérgio Illa that connects freelance photographers with event attendees through an online photo sales infrastructure. The company operates a two-sided marketplace where photographers upload event photos and consumers discover and purchase them, with a core differentiator being AI-powered facial recognition search that allows users to locate their images by uploading a selfie. The platform supports more than 80 event categories spanning sports, cultural events, graduations, and lifestyle activities, with the company self-describing as the largest photo sales platform in Latin America, supported by a network of over 100,000 registered photographers and 5+ million monthly visits.

The technical architecture combines a web-based marketplace with computer vision capabilities for face identification, integrated with multiple payment processors including Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PIX (Brazil's instant payment system). Photographers can configure personalized sales websites with custom domains, a capability acquired through the merger with Epics, and manage their business through a dedicated dashboard with unlimited withdrawals and 24-hour credit card settlement. The company has invested in event-level distribution partnerships including Rio Carnival's Bradesco Camarote, Christ the Redeemer tourism, multiple Brazilian football clubs (Vasco, Botafogo, Bangu, JEC), and Olympic-level athlete ambassadors.

Banlek generates revenue primarily through marketplace commissions on photo transactions, supplemented by professional event photography services and on-site photo printing. The platform serves individual event attendees, freelance photographers, event organizers, and sports teams/athletes. The company operates through two legal entities: BANLEK SERVIÇOS AUDIOVISUAIS LTDA. in Brazil, registered as data controller under LGPD with a Data Protection Officer, and Banlek Inc. in Florida, USA. No institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent company are disclosed in the available materials.

Name

Banlek

Legal name

BANLEK SERVIÇOS AUDIOVISUAIS LTDA.

Website

https://banlek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Banlek is a Brazilian photography marketplace platform founded in 2020 that connects over 100,000 freelance photographers with event attendees through facial recognition-powered photo discovery and online sales, operating as the largest photo sales platform in Latin America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photography Marketplace Platform

NAICS

Commercial Photography (541922), Photographic Services (54192), Photofinishing Laboratories (except One-Hour) (812921)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330), Services-Photofinishing Laboratories (7384)

akta.pro primary industry

Photography & Photo Production (BPAFAIAF)

Keywords

• Photography marketplace
• Event photography services
• Facial recognition photo search
• Photo sales platform
• Online photo commerce

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Photo Sales Commission: Banlek operates a marketplace connecting photographers with clients for online photo sales. The platform takes a commission on each transaction. Photographers can configure their own domains and run independent photo sales websites.
2. Event Photography Services: Banlek provides event photography coverage and facial recognition-enabled photo delivery for events of any size. Includes on-site portrait services and professional conference coverage.
3. On-Site Printing: High-quality physical photo printing services available on-site at events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Banlek operates a digital photography marketplace where freelance photographers can upload and sell event photos directly to consumers, with AI-powered facial recognition enabling buyers to find their photos via selfie. The platform aggregates a network of 100,000+ photographers in Brazil across 80+ activity categories and processes payments via Stripe, PIX, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. In addition to the marketplace, Banlek delivers event photography coverage services and on-site photo printing for corporate, sports, and cultural events.

Product overview

Banlek is a comprehensive photography marketplace platform operating across Latin America. The core product consists of a photo sales platform connecting photographers with clients for online purchases, supplemented by facial recognition search technology for AI-powered photo discovery. Additional offerings include an event photography services division (connecting clients with 100,000+ photographers), a photographer dashboard with custom website builder (via Epics merger), and Banlek House (physical creative workspace in Itaipava-Petrópolis). The platform supports multiple payment methods (Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PIX) and serves over 100 event categories spanning sports, celebrations, corporate, and lifestyle photography.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photo Sales Platform Two-sided marketplace where freelance photographers upload event photo albums and consumers discover and purchase photos online with payments processed via Stripe, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PIX. Built for photographers seeking broader reach and for buyers seeking their event photos across sports, social, graduation, and cultural events.
• Facial Recognition Search AI-powered computer-vision feature that lets consumers find their event photos by uploading a selfie, automatically searching across the platform's photo albums. Selfie and biometric data are discarded after matching for privacy. Targeted at event attendees who want a fast way to locate their photos without manually browsing albums.
• Photographer Dashboard Self-serve backend portal where photographers upload albums, configure personalized sales sites with custom domains, track sales, manage withdrawals with unlimited payout access, and discover event coverage opportunities. Built for freelance photographers who want turnkey e-commerce infrastructure backed by Banlek's 5+ million monthly visits.
• Event Photography Services End-to-end event photography service for organizers of sports, corporate, and social events, delivering real-time photo access, facial-recognition-enabled discovery, and on-site portrait services. Delivered by an enterprise sales motion that dispatches photographers from Banlek's nationwide Brazilian network.
• Custom Photographer Websites Personalized photo sales websites that photographers can configure with their own domain and branding, enabling them to run an independent storefront leveraging Banlek's underlying platform infrastructure. Originated through the Epics merger integration.
• 24/7 Customer Support Round-the-clock customer service available to photographers and buyers through WhatsApp ((21) 3955-1157 and sales line (21) 98109-2915), plus email and help-center video tutorials. Sold as part of the Banlek platform experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platform processes over 5 million monthly visits
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• EpicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe merger with Epics marked a significant step in Banlek's journey, expanding their photographers and enabling them to create personalized websites and offer a differentiated selection and photo delivery experience.
• G4 EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with G4 Education for education sector photography services.
• Bradesco Camarote (Rio Carnival)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanlek sponsored Bradesco Camarote at Rio de Janeiro Carnival in Sapucaí, providing photo services at one of Brazil's most prestigious Carnival events.
• Christ the RedeemermajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanlek provides photo sales services at Christ the Redeemer, one of Brazil's most iconic tourist attractions.
• CR Vasco da GamaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports team sponsorship providing photo services and visibility at Vasco matches and events.
• Botafogo de Futebol e RegatasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports team sponsorship providing photo services and visibility at Botafogo matches and events.
• BanguminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports team sponsorship providing photo services and visibility at Bangu matches and events.
• Joinville Esporte Clube (JEC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports team sponsorship providing photo services and visibility at JEC matches and events.
• Lucas FinkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with world skimboard champion Lucas Fink for athlete photography and brand ambassador services.
• Diego HypolitominorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Olympic medalist Diego Hypolito for athlete photography and brand ambassador services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Pic-Time: Pic-Time is a photography gallery, sales and workflow platform built for wedding, portrait and event photographers. Closely comparable to Banlek's event-photography and online photo-sales offering.
• PhotoShelter: PhotoShelter provides portfolio websites, online proofing and e-commerce for professional photographers and brands. Comparable SaaS-enabled photo marketplace model targeting the same freelance photographer segment.
• ShootProof: ShootProof offers online galleries, contracts, invoicing and print sales for professional photographers. Directly comparable platform model focused on monetizing event photography through online sales.
• Pixieset: Pixieset provides online galleries, client delivery, studio management and website tools for photographers. Comparable business model — software-enabled photo selling and delivery — competing for the same freelance photographer base.
• SmugMug: SmugMug is a US-based photography platform offering portfolio hosting, online storefronts and photo-selling tools for professional and amateur photographers. Directly comparable to Banlek's marketplace + photographer website model.
• Pic-Time (formerly Pic-Time Gallery) / Pic-Time Bookings: Online photography gallery and sales platform serving the same SMB photographer / event-attendee two-sided market as Banlek.

Emerging players

• Pixsy: Pixsy offers reverse image search and image-protection tools that help photographers find and monetize usage of their images. Adjacent technology overlap with Banlek's facial recognition / image-discovery stack.
• Wedio: Wedio is a marketplace connecting videographers and filmmakers with each other and clients. Comparable marketplace-as-a-service concept applied to creative production, including event content.
• Format: Format is a portfolio and online store builder for creative professionals including photographers. Comparable on the photographer-website + e-commerce dimension, though narrower than Banlek's full marketplace.

Broad incumbents

• Eventbrite (event-driven distribution): Eventbrite is a large ticketing and event-management platform that touches the same event-organizer buyer persona Banlek serves with on-site event photography services, though it does not directly compete in photo sales.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@banlekapp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/banlek/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/banlekapp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Banlek