KIRKE SRL

What KIRKE SRL does

KIRKE SRL operates an online art-commissioning marketplace headquartered in Spinetoli, Italy, under the consumer brand Kirke. The platform connects independent human illustrators with individual buyers from fandom communities (anime, VTuber, D&D, furry) seeking custom character art, emotes, profile pictures and similar commissions, and explicitly prohibits AI-generated artwork through a NO-AI verification policy enforced by automated and manual content checks. Core technology consists of a web-based marketplace with integrated payment processing (Stripe and PayPal), an escrow-based Purchase Protection system that holds funds until delivery, a community/social module with Explore/New/Following tabs, and a print-on-demand extension fulfilled through a partnership with Wooacry for physical merchandise.

The business model is a transactional marketplace: buyers are charged a 5% Purchase Protection fee on each commission, artist-side pricing is fully self-set, Stripe processing fees are passed through, and artists can opt-in to print royalties from physical-goods sales. Customer segments are two-sided: individual art buyers in fandom communities, and independent illustrators seeking payment protection, discovery and merch fulfillment, both served on a global, self-serve, pay-as-you-go basis with multi-currency support.

The company is privately held, independently operated with no disclosed external funding or institutional investors, GDPR-compliant, and reports 1–10 employees alongside a 4,000+ verified artist base.

Name

KIRKE SRL

Legal name

Kirke s.r.l.

Website

https://kirke.social

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kirke SRL operates a no-AI online art-commissioning marketplace headquartered in Spinetoli, Italy, connecting 4,000+ verified human illustrators with fandom-community buyers and earning a 5% buyer-side escrow fee per commission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Art Commissions Marketplace

NAICS

Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (71141), Art Dealers (459920), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Merchandising & D2C Management (Artists) (MPAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Art commissions marketplace
• Fandom illustration platform
• Custom artwork commissions
• Artist escrow services
• Human-made illustration platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Spinetoli

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Platform Commission (Purchase Protection Fee): Kirke applies a 5% purchase protection fee charged to buyers at the moment of payment. This fee sustains platform costs and ensures ongoing service. The payment protection tool is free for sellers (artists).
2. Payment Processing (Stripe): Third-party payment processing fees from Stripe are passed through to customers. These fees vary by country and bank, and are not retained by Kirke.
3. Print Royalties: Artists can offer print-on-demand services through Wooacry partnership. Artists receive fixed print royalties displayed in their profile section.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kirke operates a self-serve online marketplace connecting 4,000+ human-verified artists with buyers seeking custom artwork commissions, including illustrations, character designs, fanart, and VTuber emotes. The platform enforces a strict NO-AI policy, provides escrow-based payment protection for both parties, and offers integrated print-on-demand fulfillment through partner Wooacry. It charges a 5% purchase protection fee to buyers on each transaction, with artists setting their own commission prices.

Product overview

Kirke operates as a unified art commissions marketplace platform consisting of a core marketplace for buying and selling custom artwork commissions, a community/social feature for artist portfolios and discovery, and an optional print-on-demand service for physical merchandise. The platform connects over 4,000 verified human artists with clients seeking custom artwork, charging a 5% platform fee on transactions processed through Stripe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kirke Art Commissions Marketplace Online marketplace connecting 4,000+ human-verified artists with buyers seeking custom artwork commissions. Artists configure commission types (headshots, full body, chibi, character sheets, etc.) with their own pricing, and clients browse portfolios, submit requests, and purchase commissions directly. Multi-currency support with daily exchange rate updates.
• Kirke Community Social/community feature where artists post artwork, share portfolios, and interact with followers. Includes Explore, New, and Following tabs for artist discovery and content discovery.
• Kirke Print Service Physical merchandise fulfillment service enabling artists to offer printed versions of their digital artwork. Products include prints, t-shirts, and other physical items manufactured and shipped by fulfillment partner Wooacry under contractual AI-training exclusion.
• Kirke Purchase Protection Escrow-based payment protection service charged at 5% per commission to buyers. Protects buyers from scams and artists from non-payment by holding funds until commission delivery. Free for sellers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4000+ NO-AI verified artists on platform

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• StripecoreTechnology or IntegrationAmerican payment processing company handling all payment transactions on the platform. Stripe processes credit card payments and manages currency conversion with daily updated exchange rates. Users must agree to Stripe's Services Agreement to use the platform.
• Wooacry (Rouzao Creative Art Limited)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-party fulfillment partner for print-on-demand services. Manufactures and ships physical merchandise derived from digital artwork. Has contractual agreement that designs will never be used for AI model training. Handles all post-delivery support including damaged items and printing defects.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cara: Cara is an art-focused social platform that gained significant traction on a strict no-AI positioning, directly mirroring Kirke's anti-AI differentiation. Serves overlapping artist and fandom audiences.
• VGen: VGen is the closest direct peer: a dedicated art commission marketplace built for fandom, VTuber, and anime communities with similar commission listings and buyer-artist matching. Operates in the same niche and competes for the same artist pool.

Broad incumbents

• ArtStation: ArtStation is a major portfolio and marketplace for professional digital artists, particularly in games, film, and concept art. Comparable in artist discovery and monetization tools but more professionally oriented than Kirke's fandom focus.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is a massive general freelance marketplace where a meaningful share of gigs are illustration and character design commissions. Competes indirectly for buyer spend and artist attention but lacks Kirke's fandom community features and anti-AI positioning.
• DeviantArt: DeviantArt is a long-established online art community with commission features, large artist base, and broad portfolio hosting. Differs in scale and openness to AI-generated content but serves the same core buyer-artist dynamic.
• Etsy: Etsy is a large handmade and digital goods marketplace where many illustrators sell prints and digital art. Overlaps with Kirke's print-on-demand offering but lacks the custom-commission workflow and fandom community structure.

Others

• Bluesky Social: Bluesky has emerged as a gathering place for anti-AI artists and fandom communities, competing for attention in the same demographic. Not a commission marketplace but an adjacent platform where Kirke's audience spends time.
• Twitter/X Art Commission Ecosystem: Twitter/X is where many fandom artists source commissions informally via hashtags and DMs. Functions as a competitor for commission activity though it provides no escrow, structured listings, or anti-AI guarantees.

Emerging players

• Patreon: Patreon is a creator subscription platform used by many illustrators for ongoing commissions and patron-only content. Comparable in serving independent artists' monetization but built on recurring subscriptions rather than one-off commissions.
• Ko-fi: Ko-fi offers commission shops, memberships, and one-off tips for creators including illustrators. Comparable in supporting individual artist monetization but does not specialize in fandom commissions or escrow-based protection.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kirke.social
• Instagraminstagram.com/kirke.social
• TikToktiktok.com/@kirke.social
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirkesocial

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 KIRKE SRL