Etsy vs Redbubble: Founders, CEOs and History
Etsy was founded in 2005 by Robert Kalin, Chris Maguire, Haim Schoppik and is led by Kruti Patel Goyal. Redbubble was founded in 2006 by Martin Hosking, Peter Styles, Paul Vanzella and is led by Vivek Kumar.
Company facts
Founders
Etsy
Robert Kalin
Etsy possesses a well-known, specific founding story, rooted not in global ambition, but in the niche, frustrated 'maker' community of Brooklyn, New York.
Chris Maguire
Chris Maguire earned a BA in Art, Computer Science & Animation from NYU. He was the primary developer who built Etsy's backend systems, database architecture, and original marketplace functionality.
Haim Schoppik
Haim Schoppik was a web developer who met Robert Kalin through GetCrafty.com. He left NYU before graduating to build Etsy full-time.
Jared Tarbell
Jared Tarbell is an incredibly talented American generative artist, programmer, and one of the original four co-founders of the massive e-commerce platform Etsy.
Redbubble
Martin Hosking
Martin Hosking co-founded Redbubble in 2006, led it through its 2016 ASX listing, and returned to lead the 2023-2025 turnaround of the group now called Articore.
Peter Styles
Peter Styles co-founded Redbubble in Melbourne in 2006 and was its early managing director.
Paul Vanzella
Paul Vanzella, a Melbourne graphic designer, co-founded Redbubble in 2006.
CEOs and their tenures
Etsy
- Robert Kalin2005–2011
Founder and Former CEO
Kalin's steady dedication to the concept of 'handmade' created a profound, almost cult-like loyalty among early adopters, establishing a powerful brand identity that remains Etsy's most valuable asset.
Source - Chad Dickerson2011–2017
Former Chief Executive Officer
Dickerson's tenure established the vital corporate infrastructure and technical stability needed to support Etsy's rapid global expansion.
Source - Josh Silverman2017–2025
Former CEO and Executive Chair
Silverman is universally credited with executing one of the most successful corporate turnarounds in recent e-commerce history.
Source - Kruti Patel Goyal2026–present
Chief Executive Officer
Goyal's elevation to CEO represents a profound commitment to organic, sustainable growth driven by deep internal platform knowledge rather than drastic external pivots.
Source
Redbubble
- Martin Hosking2006–2025
Co-founder; former CEO and Managing Director
Co-founded Redbubble, led it through the 2016 ASX listing, and returned to lead the 2023-2025 cost turnaround.
Source - Michael Ilczynski2021–2023
Chief Executive Officer
Led Redbubble through the post-pandemic sales decline and the launch of artist account tiers.
Source - Vivek Kumar2025–present
Group CEO & Managing Director, Articore Group
Former CEO of TeePublic and then CEO, Marketplaces; appointed Group CEO in June 2025 and led the FY26 return to profit.
Source - Robin Mendelson2025–present
Chair of the Board
US-based director appointed Chair in the June 2025 board renewal.
Source - Derek Yung2026–present
Group Chief Financial Officer
Group CFO following the January 2026 CFO change.
Source
Timeline: Etsy and Redbubble side by side
2005Etsy
Etsy Launches from Brooklyn Apartment
Robert Kalin, Chris Maguire, and Haim Schoppik built and launched Etsy in June 2005 from a Brooklyn apartment. The first item sold on the fourth day. By mid-2006, the platform had 10,000 sellers and 40,000 buyers with zero advertising spend.
2006Redbubble
Redbubble Founded in Melbourne: Martin Hosking, Peter Styles, and Paul Vanzella establish Redbubble in Melbourne, Australia, with a vision to give independent artists an easy way to sell their art on…
2007Etsy
Series A Funding from Union Square Ventures
Etsy raised approximately $615,000 in a funding round led by Union Square Ventures, with Fred Wilson joining the board. The valuation reached approximately $10.7 million by November 2006.
2008Etsy
Accel Partners Investment and Founder Departures
In January 2008, Etsy raised $27 million from Accel Partners and Jim Breyer at a valuation just under $100 million. In August 2008, both technical co-founders Chris Maguire and Haim Schoppik departed, and then-CEO Robert Kalin stepped down for the first time.
2009Etsy
Kalin Returns as CEO; Chad Dickerson Joins as CTO
Robert Kalin returned as CEO in December 2009 after Maria Thomas's brief tenure. Chad Dickerson, recruited from Yahoo, joined as CTO in September 2008 to professionalize the company's technical infrastructure.
2011Redbubble
Global Fulfiller Network Expansion: Redbubble establishes third-party print-on-demand fulfillment agreements in the United States and Europe, enabling local printing and faster international shipping.
2012Etsy
B Corp Certification
Etsy became a certified B Corporation in 2012, recognizing its commitment to social and environmental responsibility alongside profits.
2015Etsy
IPO on NASDAQ at $16 Per Share
Etsy went public on April 16, 2015, pricing shares at $16 each and raising $267 million. The stock surged 88% on the first day of trading to $30.01, giving the company a market capitalization of $3.4 billion.
2016Etsy
Acquisition of Blackbird Technologies for $32.5 Million
Etsy acquired Blackbird Technologies, an AI startup, for $32.5 million to enhance its search and recommendation capabilities. This technology now powers Etsy's machine learning engine for personalized product discovery across 100 million+ listings.
2016Redbubble
Initial Public Offering on ASX: Redbubble lists on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: RBL) to fund global expansion.
2017Etsy
Josh Silverman Becomes CEO; Revenue Turnaround Begins
In May 2017, board member Josh Silverman replaced Chad Dickerson as CEO after a first-quarter loss and a 8% workforce reduction.
2018Redbubble
Acquisition of TeePublic: Redbubble acquires US rival TeePublic for US$41 million, creating the world's largest marketplace coalition for independent creator merchandise.
2019Etsy
Acquisition of Reverb for $275 Million
In July 2019, Etsy acquired Reverb, a marketplace for new, used, and vintage musical instruments, for $275 million in cash. Reverb was founded in 2013 by David Kalt and had surpassed $1 billion in total sales by 2017.
2019Redbubble
Launch of Redbubble Partner Program: Introduces an industry-first fan-art licensing model, partnering with entertainment leaders (Warner Bros, Netflix, Hasbro) to allow creators to legally sell compli…
2020Etsy
COVID-19 Pandemic Drives Explosive Growth
Etsy experienced growth during the COVID-19 pandemic as consumers turned to handmade goods, personalized items, and face masks. Gross merchandise sales more than doubled year-over-year to $10.3 billion. Face mask sales alone reached $346 million in Q2 2020.
2020Redbubble
Pandemic E-Commerce Surge & Mask Sales: Redbubble experiences record revenue as global e-commerce explodes; the marketplace sells millions of artist-designed fabric face masks alongside surging home d…
2021Etsy
Acquisitions of Depop and Elo7 for $1.84 Billion Combined
In June 2021, Etsy acquired Depop, an U.K.-based fashion resale app targeting Gen Z, for $1.625 billion. In July 2021, it acquired Elo7, the 'Etsy of Brazil,' for $217 million. Both acquisitions were made at peak tech valuations and later proved problematic.
2022Etsy
$1 Billion Asset Impairment Charge
Etsy recorded $1.0 billion in asset impairment charges, including $897.9 million for Depop and $147.1 million for Elo7, reflecting the decline in valuations and performance of its 2021 acquisitions.
2023Etsy
Sale of Elo7 and 11% Workforce Reduction
In July 2023, Etsy sold Elo7 to Brazilian marketplace Enjoei for an undisclosed amount, likely at a loss.
2023Redbubble
Return of Martin Hosking & Cost Restructuring: Co-founder Martin Hosking returns as CEO, implementing A in cost reductions, introducing artist tiering fees, and returning the group to positive operati…
2024Etsy
Revenue Growth Slows to 2.2%; Seller Setup Fee Introduced
Etsy reported revenue of $2.81 billion in 2024, up just 2.2% from 2023, the slowest growth rate since the IPO.
2024Redbubble
Rebranding to Articore Group Limited (ASX: ATG): Redbubble Limited formally changes its corporate name to Articore Group Limited on the ASX to reflect its holding structure managing both Redbubble and…
2025Etsy
Sale of Reverb; Depop Sale Agreement; CEO Transition
On June 2, 2025, Etsy completed the sale of Reverb to Creator Partners and Servco Pacific. On February 18, 2026, the company announced an agreement to sell Depop to eBay for $1.2 billion in cash.
Acquisitions
Etsy
- Depop Limited2021$1.6B
- Elo7 Serviços de Informática S.A.2021$217M
- Reverb Holdings, Inc.2019$275M
- Blackbird Technologies2016$32.5M
Questions about Etsy vs Redbubble
Who is the CEO of Etsy, Inc. and Redbubble?
Etsy, Inc. is led by Kruti Patel Goyal and Redbubble is led by Vivek Kumar. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Etsy, Inc. founded vs Redbubble?
Etsy, Inc. was founded in 2005 — 1 year before Redbubble, which was founded in 2006. Etsy, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Redbubble.
How many employees does Etsy, Inc. have compared to Redbubble?
Etsy, Inc. employs approximately 2,400 people, while Redbubble employs approximately 260. Etsy, Inc. has the larger workforce at 2,400 employees, compared to Redbubble's 260. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Etsy, Inc. and Redbubble headquartered?
Etsy, Inc. is headquartered in United States and Redbubble is headquartered in Australia. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Etsy, Inc. and Redbubble?
Etsy, Inc. was founded by Robert Kalin, Chris Maguire, Haim Schoppik, Jared Tarbell. Redbubble was founded by Martin Hosking, Peter Styles, Paul Vanzella.
Which company has a longer operating history — Etsy, Inc. or Redbubble?
Etsy, Inc. has been operating for approximately 21 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Redbubble has been in operation for around 20 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Etsy vs Redbubble overview