On AI & Creativity

How do you see AI reshaping the creative industry today and where do you draw the line between human creativity and machine-generated content?

AI is definitely changing the game, but it won’t kill the creative industry the way mainstream media suggests. What I’m seeing is that AI has become another tool in the creative’s toolkit. The key difference is authenticity. Human creativity brings context, emotion, and genuine storytelling that AI simply can’t replicate. Photographers and designers draw from real experiences and cultural understanding. AI can help with efficiency and ideation, but it can’t replace that human insight and real-world authenticity.

Vecteezy offers both AI-generated and human-created images. How do your customers respond to this choice?

Our customers appreciate having options. Some want only human-created content and others will specifically look for AI images.

We’re seeing that customers use AI content for different purposes than human-created content. AI might be great for abstract concepts, but when they need authentic shots of real people, genuine emotions, or culturally specific content, they usually choose human-created work.

Some argue AI risks replacing human designers. What’s your perspective on AI as a collaborator versus a competitor to human creativity?

I see AI as a collaborator, not a replacement. The designers who thrive will be those who learn to use AI as one tool among many.

The real value of human designers lies in strategy, understanding client needs, cultural context, and creative problem-solving. AI can help with execution and iteration, but it can’t replace the designer who understands why a particular visual choice matters for a brand or audience, at least, not yet.

What ethical considerations do you keep in mind when rolling out AI-powered tools like background remover or reverse image search?

Transparency is huge for us. We label AI-generated content so users always know what they’re getting. For our AI tools like background removal, we focus on utility and helping users work more efficiently rather than replacing their creative judgment.

We also think carefully about our contributor community. When we built our reverse image search, we made sure it helps users find more relevant content from our human creators, not bypass them. It’s about enhancing discoverability, not replacement.

On Vecteezy’s Growth Journey

You’ve built Vecteezy without VC funding. What were the biggest challenges and advantages of that path?

VC-backed companies often spend aggressively on marketing and hiring, but we had to be methodical about every decision. That’s a challenge, but it forces you to be efficient.

The advantages have been huge. Every decision is based on what’s best for our users and contributors, not what satisfies investors. We’ve built a sustainable business and we’ve never had to pivot away from our core mission because of investor pressure.

Being bootstrapped also forced us to really understand our business. We couldn’t just throw money at problems. We had to build efficient processes and truly understand what drives value for our customers.

Growing to a $20M run rate and landing on the Inc 5000 four years in a row is impressive. What strategies helped you scale sustainably?

We’re not quite at a $20M run rate yet, but we’re getting close. Focus has been everything. Early on, I made the mistake of chasing too many projects and opportunities. I was working on multiple sites and trying different business models. The real growth came when I doubled down on what was working: Vecteezy.

Our team has also been essential to our growth. We look for people who are humble, hungry, and smart, with what we call our G.A.R.D.E.N. values: Genuine, Ambitious, Reliable, Detailed, Enthusiastic, and Nimble.

The “Scaling Up” methodology by Verne Harnish has been crucial too. We set SMART goals, break them into quarterly priorities, and stay laser-focused on execution.

What advice would you give to founders who want to grow bootstrapped companies in competitive markets?

Provide value first. For the first three years, all the resources at Vecteezy were completely free. By the time we launched Vecteezy Pro in 2010, we had already built trust and loyalty. Even now, we still offer millions of free resources.

Also, know your customers intimately. As a designer myself, I understood our users’ daily frustrations. That insight let us build solutions that truly mattered, not just features that sounded cool.

And be patient. Bootstrapped growth may take longer, but it builds a stronger foundation. Stay focused on your unique value proposition.

On Industry Trends & Future Vision

How do you see the balance of demand shifting between AI-generated and human-created visuals over the next 3–5 years?

I think we’ll see continued growth in both, but for different use cases. AI will handle more of the commodity content like generic backgrounds, simple illustrations, placeholder images. But demand for authentic human-created content will actually increase as brands try to stand out in a world flooded with AI content.

With so many AI-powered creative tools emerging, how does Vecteezy differentiate itself?

We focus on solving real customer problems by providing high-quality creative assets at affordable prices. We also help customers overcome licensing challenges by providing a simple, worry-free license that’s easy to understand.

Additionally, we differentiate through our contributor community. AI tools are becoming commoditized, but building authentic relationships with creators and users is much harder to replicate.

If you look ahead 10 years, what role do you believe human creativity will play in a world where AI is everywhere?

Human creativity will become even more valuable, not less. As AI handles more routine creative tasks, the premium will be on uniquely human skills: emotional intelligence, storytelling, and the ability to connect with authentic human experiences.

I think we’ll see an emphasis on craftsmanship and authenticity. There will always be demand for genuinely human-created content.

Personal & Leadership Insights

What was the “aha” moment that pushed you to start Vecteezy?

As a designer myself, I was constantly frustrated by how expensive quality creative resources were. I’d need vector graphics or stock photos for projects, but the prices were often out of reach for a limited budget. At the same time, I talked to friends and colleagues who contributed to the major stock marketplaces. They created beautiful work but the platforms took massive cuts, leaving contributors with very little.

That’s when it clicked for me. What if we could provide free and affordable resources to designers who needed them, while actually paying creators fairly for their work? I realized I could democratize creative resources and make professional-quality content accessible to everyone while building a sustainable model that truly supported the creative community. That dual purpose became the foundation of everything we’ve built. Even today, we’re one of the only platforms that pays contributors for free downloads by sharing a portion of our earnings from the advertising revenue their free content generates.

How has your leadership style evolved as the company scaled from startup to multi-million-dollar business?

The biggest shift has been learning to step back. Early on, I was involved in everything, but that becomes a bottleneck as you scale.

Now I focus more on setting vision and building culture. I’ve also become more systematic about how we operate. We follow quarterly planning, have clear accountability structures, and use data to drive decisions rather than just going with gut instinct.

On a personal note, how do you stay creative and inspired as a founder leading in such a fast-changing industry?

I make sure to stay connected to the creative community we serve. That keeps me grounded in why we exist. I also try to keep a healthy work-life balance and stay active and involved with my family.

Reading and learning from other entrepreneurs helps too. The “All-In” podcast and “How I Built This” keep me inspired about what’s possible. And honestly, seeing our contributors make real money from their creativity, that never gets old. It reminds me why our work matters.