Online creative platform Easle has obtained £450,000 in seed funding from industry heavyweights ustwo and Ian Hambleton of Studio Output, in order to expand its creative platform.

Easle aims to offer a new way for high quality creative talent from around the world to connect with brands, already attracting businesses such as Ogilvy, Diageo and Penguin Random House.

With over 200 clients already signed up, Easle provides a part-tech, part-human service offering a new way for brands, agencies and businesses to discover high quality creative talent from around the world.

Search, negotiation, briefing, contracts and payments are built into the platform, but experts are available to provide support, and help find the right talent to suit client needs. This allows Easle to operate at lower costs than competitors whilst retaining a high calibre of talent.

Having successfully trialled the platform with illustrators, Easle will use the funding to expand the platform to include Graphic Design, Animation, Photography and Videography, build an app and further develop their offering.

“Our focus is on bringing the top creative talent and brands together to make great work. With the expansion, we plan to really disrupt the traditional agency-talent model across the board. Eventually we aim to become a hub for inspiration and collaboration across a huge range of disciplines,” said Nick Gubbins, Easle CEO and Co-Founder.

The service directly responds to the soaring increase of freelancers who now contribute over £20 billion to the UK Creative Economy. Over time, Easle aims to provide tools to support its customers and creator’s day to day working lifestyle such as managing finances and accounts, as well as more specific tools to assist with flexible working.