We categorize competitors into two groups:
As elucidated in the Market Breaking Down section, Lookr is a trailblazer positioned at the intersection of three markets: AIGC, photography service, and camera applications. Currently, the market for camera apps is relatively nascent, and we are at the forefront of incorporating AIGC as a core technology and automate the work of photography service. For the majority of users, Lookr is closer to a photography productivity tool over a coaching app because they have less interest in learning photography but have the initiative to improve shot quality. At first glance, the camera app market may appear saturated, but AIGC represents an untapped and burgeoning market segment. By integrating these elements, we have the opportunity to be a transformative force within the photography industry. What may initially seem like a saturated market could, in fact, represent an untapped market with vast potential for our innovative approach.
Direct competitors can be further broken down to photography service providers and applications.
Despite being a mobile app, Lookr's main competitors are photography service providers. This is because Lookr instantly elevates users' photography skills to professional levels, reducing the need for expensive photography services. This aligns with our definition of direct competitors as those who offer an alternative solution to the same problem. As observed in the Market Breaking Down section, the market size of Photography Services is three times that of applications. In the application market, 88% is dominated by Adobe Creative Cloud, which primarily offers editing tools. This leaves a relatively small space for other apps. By replacing professional services, Lookr has the potential to capture a 33.5% market share, equivalent to $12.2B, from Photography Service Providers. Our primary targets for replacement are those focusing on Media, Education, Professional, Startup, and Non-Profit sectors.
Currently, there are two applications that incorporate AI-driven personalization. The primary application of this personalization pertains to recommending pictures that are similar, which aligns with our 'Spark' feature. Follow Camera is relatively newer to the market, with a 9-month tenure, and has outperformed AiryCam in terms of photo quality and pose suggestions. Follow Camera utilizes AI to create pose frames based on the selected Spark image. However, there is often a discrepancy between its Spark image and the real-time scene captured by the camera. Additionally, it lacks an efficient mechanism to bridge the gap between the similar picture and the camera, rendering it less effective in guiding users through different scenarios. On the other hand, AiryCam employs AI primarily for extracting the subject from the original picture for reference, alongside some pre-recorded voices, which correlates with our 'Tips' feature. Given that these voices have to be recorded manually, AiryCam is more limited in the volume of Spark photos compared to Follow Camera.
Follow Camera, developed by Beijing Kuailian Technology Co., LTD (founded in 2012), is a photography application exclusively available in China. Launched in September 2022, the app, currently offered free of charge. The revenue mainly comes from ads. It utilizes AI to convert similar pictures into pose frames and provide a photo shooting navigation map to aid users in discovering ideal shooting spots. The application encourages users to upload their work, fostering a community where others can draw inspiration and follow their styles.
Website: https://www.airycamera.com.
AiryCam released its inaugural version 1.8.1 on July 18, 2021.
In contrast to creating pose frames, AiryCam specializes in generating cut-out subjects directly from recommended pictures.
Additionally, AiryCam features a pre-recorded voice assistant. The application developers have meticulously analyzed and hard-coded this recording into the picture library.
Revenue Model:
Editors stand as our complementary competitors.
What if they start building something akin to Lookr?. As of my understanding, I have not come across any competitors funneling resources into a venture similar to Lookr.