JustSketchMe
JustSketchMe is a bootstrapped, web-based 3D pose reference tool that lets artists manipulate jointed character models, build scenes with props and lighting, and export references. It serves individual illustrators, comic/concept artists, and anime/manga creators worldwide via a freemium subscription and lifetime license model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersCape Town, South Africa
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What JustSketchMe does
JustSketchMe is a web-based 3D pose reference application for visual artists, illustrators, and anime/manga creators. Operated as a bootstrapped private company by founders Herman and Simon-Kai and incorporated as JustSketchMe (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, the product is delivered primarily through a browser-based Progressive Web App at app.justsketch.me, with companion distribution through the Apple App Store (iOS), a native macOS .dmg client, and PWA installation paths for Windows and Android. The tool exposes manipulable 3D character models with joint-based posing, a library of 200+ pre-built poses and 20+ hand poses, dynamic lighting controls, a scene builder with props, and export functions including transparent screenshots and .obj 3D model files. It also supports user-uploaded .fbx character models using Mixamo-compatible skeleton conventions.
The business model is a freemium consumer subscription stack: a free tier provides basic functionality, while JustSketchMe Pro unlocks the full feature set via either a periodic subscription (monthly or annual) or a one-time lifetime license, with payments processed through Gumroad and LemonSqueezy. License keys enable cloud-synced poses and scenes across up to three concurrent devices. Go-to-market is product-led and community-led: the company drives acquisition through an SEO-oriented blog of 80+ articles, social channels (Instagram, Twitter, YouTube), community challenges such as the Character Design Challenge and DTIYS events, and a cross-promotion partnership with indie manga publisher Saturday AM.
The company serves a long-tail customer base of individual artists and illustrators globally, with primary segments being comic/concept artists and anime/manga creators, and a secondary segment in educational institutions for figure drawing instruction. No enterprise customers, no external funding, no acquisitions, and no material hiring beyond the two founders are disclosed; servers are hosted in Amsterdam, Netherlands. As of the available data the company has been operating since at least 2019 and is actively maintained with feature releases and content publishing.
JustSketchMe firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- JustSketchMe
- Legal name
- JustSketchMe (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://justsketch.me
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- JustSketchMe is a bootstrapped, web-based 3D pose reference tool that lets artists manipulate jointed character models, build scenes with props and lighting, and export references. It serves individual illustrators, comic/concept artists, and anime/manga creators worldwide via a freemium subscription and lifetime license model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
JustSketchMe industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Art Tools
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- 3D Character Animation (MPAHACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Look Development, Shading & Lighting (Animation) (MPAHACAI)
Keywords
Where JustSketchMe is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cape Town
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
JustSketchMe business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Subscription License (JustSketchMe Pro): Periodic subscription model where users are billed according to their chosen license period. Subscribers receive a license key that unlocks full features and can be used across all devices.
- One-Time Lifetime License: One-time payment option that provides perpetual access to the full featureset. Valid for the lifetime of JustSketchMe (Pty) Ltd.
- Freemium Access: Free tier available with basic features. Full functionality requires Pro subscription or lifetime license.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free Tier |
| Subscription | Monthly | Pro Subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro Subscription (Annual) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Others | Lifetime License |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
JustSketchMe product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JustSketchMe is a web-based 3D pose reference application that lets artists pose joint-based character models, build scenes with props and dynamic lighting, and export screenshots or .obj files. It ships as a Progressive Web App with native clients on iOS and macOS and is offered on a freemium basis with paid Pro subscriptions and a Lifetime License.
Product overview
JustSketchMe is a single unified product delivered across multiple platforms (web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows). The core offering is a 3D pose reference tool for artists, with a free tier providing basic functionality and a premium JustSketchMe Pro subscription unlocking cloud sync, the full Pose Library (200+ poses), Hand Pose Library (20+ poses), scene saving, 3D model export, and multi-device support. The product includes integrated tools for character manipulation (rotate, move, scale), lighting control, prop management, and scene composition. Native apps are available for iOS, Mac, and Windows, while Android and web users access the Progressive Web App version.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- JustSketchMe Web App
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 18 character models available for immediate use
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use JustSketchMe
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
JustSketchMe technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
JustSketchMe partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Saturday AMcoreSaturday AM is an independent manga publisher that JustSketchMe has partnered with for cross-promotion. The partnership includes featuring Saturday AM titles on JustSketchMe's blog, promoting JustSketchMe tools to Saturday AM's manga creator audience, and collaborative content initiatives targeting anime and manga artists.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
JustSketchMe competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Easy Poser: A mobile 3D posing app designed for artists and animators with a character library and pose editor. It competes in the same mobile-first posing segment as JustSketchMe's iOS app.
- Pose Tool 3D: A mobile-focused 3D posing app popular among manga and anime artists. It overlaps directly with JustSketchMe's anime/manga creator segment, offering similar joint manipulation and character posing features.
- PoseMy.Art: A web-based 3D pose reference tool with character models and posing capabilities. It targets the same artist-illustrator use case as JustSketchMe with a similar self-serve web distribution model.
- Magic Poser: A 3D character posing app for artists and animators available on web, iOS, and Android. It competes head-to-head with JustSketchMe on joint-based posing, scene building, and pose libraries, targeting the same illustrator and comic creator audience.
- DesignDoll: A desktop 3D posing software with character models, posing tools, and scene composition. It serves professional illustrators and animators with similar functionality to JustSketchMe, including custom model support and pose libraries.
Broad incumbents
- Blender: A free, open-source 3D creation suite with rigging and posing capabilities. While not specialized for figure drawing reference, artists with technical skills can use it to achieve similar outcomes, making it a free alternative pressure on JustSketchMe.
- Clip Studio Paint: A leading illustration and comic creation software with built-in 3D pose reference models. It bundles pose reference into a broader creative suite, competing indirectly with JustSketchMe's standalone pose reference offering among manga and comic creators.
- Procreate: A dominant iPad illustration app used by the same artist community that JustSketchMe serves. While it does not directly compete in pose reference, it represents the broader creative tool ecosystem where artists choose complementary utilities.
Emerging players
- MagicPoser (alternative): An emerging web-based 3D posing tool with focus on quick pose reference generation. Comparable to JustSketchMe's core offering for artists needing fast figure reference without software installation.
- Furry Paws (VR pose reference): A specialized pose reference tool focused on VR-based character posing. It overlaps with JustSketchMe's posing functionality for a subset of users interested in VR workflows.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
JustSketchMe social profiles
Digital presenceJustSketchMe financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
JustSketchMe leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
JustSketchMe funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
JustSketchMe M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about JustSketchMe
What does JustSketchMe do?
JustSketchMe is a web-based 3D pose reference application that lets artists pose joint-based character models, build scenes with props and dynamic lighting, and export screenshots or .obj files. It ships as a Progressive Web App with native clients on iOS and macOS and is offered on a freemium basis with paid Pro subscriptions and a Lifetime License.
Is JustSketchMe a public or private company?
JustSketchMe is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was JustSketchMe founded?
JustSketchMe was founded in -1.
Where is JustSketchMe based?
JustSketchMe is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does JustSketchMe make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription License (JustSketchMe Pro) is the primary driver. The others are one-Time Lifetime License and freemium Access.
Who are JustSketchMe's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Easy Poser, Pose Tool 3D, PoseMy.Art, Magic Poser and DesignDoll. Broad incumbents are Blender, Clip Studio Paint and Procreate. Emerging players are MagicPoser (alternative) and Furry Paws (VR pose reference).
Does JustSketchMe have an API?
No public API is recorded for JustSketchMe.
What industry is JustSketchMe in?
JustSketchMe's product category is Digital Art Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHACAB, 3D Character Animation, with a secondary code of MPAHACAI, Look Development, Shading & Lighting (Animation). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7819.