Revolutionizing Content Sourcing: Catch+Release Unveils AI-Powered Search

Catch+Release, a groundbreaking startup specializing in enabling brands to secure licenses for creator-generated content, has unveiled an innovative AI-driven search feature. This powerful tool empowers users to effortlessly locate user-generated content using natural language queries, revolutionizing the way brands source content for their marketing campaigns. Unlike traditional methods that involve scouring various platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for potential content, this new search engine streamlines the process, eliminating the need to navigate between platforms.

The conventional approach for marketers when searching for content on platforms like Instagram often relies on keywords, leaving them at the mercy of creators accurately tagging their images and videos. Catch+Release, however, harnesses the capabilities of image recognition technology to identify scenes and objects within media assets, liberating marketers from the constraints of keyword-based searches.

While Catch+Release's AI-powered search is a remarkable leap forward in content sourcing, it's essential to note that the current iteration of the search engine has some limitations. Unlike traditional search engines, it cannot scour the broader internet for content. Instead, Catch+Release operates by onboarding creators onto its platform, where they import their assets and link their social accounts. Since its creator onboarding launch earlier this year, the platform has successfully onboarded 600 creators, indexing over 300,000 items.

In preliminary tests of the search engine, it demonstrated an impressive ability to retrieve images related to specific queries. However, video searches exhibited some variability in accuracy. For instance, when searching for "a dog playing in the Park," the results occasionally included videos without dogs. Catch+Release acknowledges these limitations and is actively working to enhance its recognition capabilities for video content.

Catch+Release's commitment to innovation has not gone unnoticed in the investment community. To date, the company has secured a total of $31.3 million in funding, including an $8 million extension round announced just last month. Notable investors in Catch+Release include Accel, Cervin, Stagwell, HarbourVest Partners, Kevin Durant's venture firm 35V, and Gainsight CEO Nick Mehta.

In conclusion, Catch+Release's introduction of an AI-powered search engine for user-generated content marks a significant advancement in the field of content sourcing for brands. While it has some limitations, particularly with video content, the company's commitment to improvement and innovation positions it as a promising player in the market. With substantial backing from prominent investors, Catch+Release is poised to continue its growth and evolution as a leading platform for securing creator content licenses.