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Melbourne-based scale-up Book An Artist, a global platform for commissioning bespoke artwork, has acquired Silicon Valley creator marketplace Wescover in a landmark deal that the company says will “supercharge” its presence in the US.
Wescover, which has raised US$11 million ($18.2 million) in venture capital since inception in 2016, helps professional creators showcase and sell unique furniture, lighting, decor and custom-designed items.
Book An Artist says the buyout creates a “powerhouse marketplace that spans multiple creative disciplines, bringing together artists, designers and buyers under one ecosystem”.
The company says the deal not only strengthens its mission to empower artists and creators with sustainable opportunities in a tech-driven world, but it is also rare for an Australian company to acquire an established Silicon Valley startup.
"We are incredibly excited about this acquisition,” says Book An Artist founder and CEO Gaurav Kawar, a finalist in the 2023 Melbourne Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
“Wescover’s team has built an exceptional brand and platform in the creator space. This deal allows us to supercharge our presence in the US while staying true to our mission of empowering independent artists."
Kawar founded Book An Artist in 2019 to connect talented artists with global opportunities. Since then, the platform has grown rapidly to a community of more than 2,500 artists and 2,000 customers.
Book An Artist has been scaling rapidly, with an 80 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth rate since launching in the US in late 2023.
The company says that with strong traction in key markets such as New York, Miami and Los Angeles, the acquisition of Wescover enhances the company’s ability to serve an even broader range of creators and customers.
"Since 2016, Wescover has championed independent creators, and we are immensely proud of the community we’ve built,” says Wescover co-founder and CEO Rachely Esman.
“Joining forces with Book An Artist opens new doors for creators, giving them more opportunities and resources to thrive."
Backed by venture capital firms Draper Associates, At.inc and Floodgate, Wescover has built a strong brand that is recognised across the US creator space.
Book An Artist says that by joining forces, the two platforms are set to reshape the creator economy, making original, custom-made art and design more accessible than ever.
“As AI-generated art becomes more prevalent, Book An Artist and Wescover stand firm in their commitment to real, human-made creativity,” says the company.
“This acquisition is not just about scaling a business; it’s about ensuring that artists and designers continue to have a sustainable, thriving industry where craftsmanship and originality are valued.”
Prior to launching Book An Artist, Kawar worked in the finance and consulting world for large corporations including Coca Cola and London fashion brand Jack Wills.
“I have always had a passion for art, and love iconic artists like Van Gogh, but always thought it was unfortunate that his success and fame came after his lifetime,” says Kawar.
“It wasn’t until a holiday with mates in Cuba that the seed of the Book An Artist idea was planted.
“We had decided to take a day trip to visit Mural de la Prehistoria - an enormous outdoor painting located in Viñales, which is about three hours outside of Havana.”
Kawar explains that the painting depicts human evolution and it is “often the subject of tourist criticism”.
“My friends and I started to debate how difficult it was to actually find a good artist,” he says.
“Given the current state of on-demand services such as Airtasker, Uber and AirBnB, we quickly realised such a service didn’t exist for artists.”
Kawar spent the next several years tinkering with the concept, “talking to heaps of street artists” in London to get a handle on their struggles in finding work, and also with restaurants and bars who may have been seeking custom mural art.
“It became clear that there was a gap in the market in connecting the two and Book An Artist officially launched in 2019.”
Book An Artist also operates in Canada and the UK but the company turned its attention to the US more aggressively in 2023 with plans to grow its operations beyond New York and Miami to other major cities after earlier raising $1 million.
Financial details of the Wescover acquisition have not been disclosed.
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