ForsVC backs Artwod in €1.1 million Seed round alongside Airbridge Equity Partners to help artists develop their skills
Antwerp, 20 August 2026. Artwod, a platform that helps artists improve through structured practice and community feedback, today announced it has closed a €1.1 million Seed round. ForsVC joins the round alongside lead investor Airbridge. The funding will accelerate development of Artwod's platform and drive the growth of the creator community.
Artwod was founded by Antonio Stappaerts, a former Creative Director and professional Concept Artist who has worked with companies including Ubisoft and Sony Entertainment. The platform was built from first-hand experience of how artists actually improve: through practice, feedback, repetition and clear guidance.
Artwod recently partnered with Wacom, the world's leading drawing tablet brand, to give digital artists instant access to personalized feedback, guided practice and a clear next step in their improvement journey.
How it works
By combining elements of platforms like Duolingo and Chess.com, Artwod brings guided learning and community feedback together around one goal: visible artistic improvement.
Like Duolingo, it makes learning simple, guided and easy to return to, through short, playful exercises that build on each other. Like Chess.com, it is built around an active community: artists do not just consume content, they share work, compare progress, give each other feedback, and help one another improve.
In practice, artists share what they're struggling with, receive feedback and personalized learning recommendations, and then practice through short, structured "Learning Roads" that keep them moving forward. As artists use the platform, feedback on their artwork and their learning activity help Artwod understand what an artist is struggling with and what to work on next. This makes the guidance more relevant and personal over time.
As we witness AI performing remarkable things, we mustn't forget that creativity isn't only about the final output. You wouldn't hire a robot to replace you on a family vacation and expect it to come back with your memories. The value is in experiencing it yourself. I think art is much the same.
As humans, we have always felt compelled to create, through images, music, writing, film and countless other forms. That process is deeply personal. It gives us a sense of purpose, pride and a way to express who we are.
We believe human creativity is worth protecting. Artwod exists to help people in developing that visual creativity, and to build a community where artists actively help each other grow.
— Antonio Stappaerts, Founder & CEO, Artwod
From receiving feedback to earning from it
An artist can receive feedback today, practice what they've learned tomorrow, and later become experienced enough to help someone else facing the same problem. Artwod's next phase will turn that progression into a new source of income: a creator marketplace where top feedback-givers can offer paid critiques and guidance directly to other artists.
At a time when AI is putting pressure on parts of the creative industry, Artwod wants to give artists a new way to earn. Not only by making art, but by sharing the experience, taste and judgment they've built along the way. A talented artist should be able to earn from both.
In the last 18 months, Artwod has grown to serve more than 100,000 artists worldwide. Since the introduction and continued development of its community platform, momentum has accelerated significantly, with daily platform traffic increasing by more than 500% and daily engaged usage growing by more than 400%. As Artwod has expanded the experience with new ways for artists to receive feedback, learn and interact, an increasing number of users are not only discovering the platform, but actively incorporating it into their creative development.
What the funding will accelerate
The €1.1 million Seed round will fund stronger personalization, deeper links between feedback and learning, better community participation, and the habit-forming systems that keep artists engaged, alongside the launch of the creator marketplace. Artwod is partnering with its investors for their experience with B2C products, gaming and the creator economy.
With this funding, Artwod is building toward a clear long-term vision: to become the global platform where artists come to improve and celebrate progress, and where skilled artists can build meaningful income by helping others do the same. Help artists grow. Help artists help artists.
About Artwod
Built by artists, for artists, Artwod aims to become the world's leading platform for artistic improvement. By combining community feedback, structured and personalised learning, and progress tracking into one continuous improvement journey, Artwod helps every artist take the next meaningful step in their development. As artists interact with the platform, their feedback, learning activity, struggles, and progress make the experience increasingly relevant. Helping aspiring artists improve more effectively while enabling experienced artists and educators to provide greater value.
About ForsVC
ForsVC is a vibrant 18-million-euro fund based in Belgium, dedicated to catalyzing the growth of Game Studios and Game Tech companies in Belgium and neighbouring countries. Founded by Howest, Cronos Group and BNP Paribas Fortis, the fund is committed to nurturing innovation and fostering the gaming ecosystem in the region.
About Airbridge Equity Partners
Airbridge Equity Partners is a European investment firm founded by successful entrepreneurs. With €123mln across its largely self-funded funds, Airbridge backs Europe's emerging tech leaders with real and pragmatic support.
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ForsVC Partners NV — Marksesteenweg 58, 8500 Kortrijk — [email protected] — https://www.fors.vc