Twenty20
Acquired4 known investors
Twenty20 was a crowdsourced stock photography marketplace, later acquired by Envato and discontinued in 2022.
Also known as Instacanvas · Twenty20 Stock Photos
Investors · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Twenty20 was a crowd-sourced stock photography marketplace that licensed royalty-free images contributed by amateur and professional photographers, with a library described as containing more than 45 million photographs. The company was founded in April 2013 as Instacanvas, a service for printing Instagram photographs onto canvas, and rebranded to Twenty20 in October 2013 when it shifted focus to supplying stock imagery for social media advertising campaigns.
Photographers uploaded images through an app, where photos could be nominated by other users for inclusion in the company's curated "Signature Collection" or entered into themed, user-voted contests; selected and winning images were surfaced on the app homepage. The company positioned its catalog around "authentic" real-world imagery — healthy lifestyles, modern workplaces and everyday scenes — which it described as appealing to millennial audiences. Twenty20 was acquired by Envato Elements in 2019 and the app was subsequently shut down, with the service discontinued by July 31, 2022. Envato did not carry over the Signature Collection, and only a small share of Twenty20 contributors were invited to continue with Envato.
Founding story
The business began in April 2013 as Instacanvas, printing Instagram photographs on canvas. In October 2013 it rebranded as Twenty20 and repositioned as a crowdsourced stock photography marketplace for social media advertising. It was co-founded by Matt Munson, Todd Emaus and Kevin Fremon, with Munson serving as CEO; prior to Twenty20 he had helped build and sell two other companies.
Business model
Twenty20 licensed crowdsourced photography to advertisers and brands, offering both à la carte purchases and subscription-based access. Photographers joined for free and shared revenue with Twenty20, which paid higher contributor rates than many other stock photo companies.
Image licensing revenue from à la carte purchases and subscriptions sold to advertisers, shared with contributing photographers.
Traction
Reported over 45 million photographs as of February 2015 and more than 350,000 contributors as of 2017, with brand customers including Vice, Macy's, Google and Snapchat.
Latest developments
Following the 2019 purchase by Envato Elements, the Twenty20 app was shut down and the service was discontinued as of July 31, 2022. The twenty20.com domain now presents Envato's subscription offering of creative assets and AI tools.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Twenty20 competed with traditional stock photography agencies, offering a crowdsourced catalog of more than 45 million royalty-free photos from over 350,000 contributors before being absorbed by Envato, whose own stock offering was smaller at the time of purchase.
The company positioned itself as a modern alternative to traditional stock agencies, built on authentic, real-world imagery sourced from a large contributor community, community curation via the Signature Collection and themed contests, and above-average revenue share rates for photographers.
Technology
A mobile app for photo upload and community curation, paired with an online licensing marketplace with search and subscription access for advertisers.
Go-to-market
Advertisers and brands running social media and marketing campaigns; customers cited included Vice, Macy's, Google and Snapchat. On the supply side, amateur and professional smartphone and stock photographers.
Geography
Headquartered at 1038 Princeton, Marina Del Rey, California, in the Los Angeles area, United States.
History
Founded as Instacanvas in April 2013 and rebranded to Twenty20 in October 2013, the company was incorporated in Marina Del Rey, California, with a founding date recorded as February 1, 2014. In February 2015 it announced Series A funding alongside a library of more than 45 million photographs, and exited beta in March 2015. By 2017 it reported over 350,000 contributors. Envato Elements purchased the company in 2019; Envato later announced the shutdown of the app, and the service was discontinued on July 31, 2022.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsEnvato shut down the Twenty20 app; the service was discontinued by July 31, 2022. The Signature Collection was not carried over and only a small percentage of contributors were invited to continue with Envato.
Envato Elements, which had its own smaller stock offering, purchased Twenty20 and stated plans to expand the service.
The stock photography licensing service ended its beta test in March 2015.
Announced Series A funding of $8M alongside a crowdsourced photo-licensing service and a library of over 45 million photographs.
$8M source ↗
The company rebranded from Instacanvas to Twenty20 and shifted focus to a crowdsourced stock photography marketplace for social media advertising campaigns.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- Twenty20twenty20.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Twenty20 do?
- Twenty20 was a crowdsourced stock photography marketplace, later acquired by Envato and discontinued in 2022.
- Who are Twenty20's investors?
- Twenty20's investors include Bullpen Capital, Canaan Partners, Velos Partners, Version One Ventures.