Exclusive 2025 Startup News: Lessons from Dribbble’s Ban on Top Designers & New Competitor Launch

The digital design world was recently shaken by major startup news: Dribbble, a once-beloved platform for designers, permanently banned one of its most renowned contributors, Gleb Kuznetsov. This controversial move has inadvertently catalyzed a game-changing new competitor from Kuznetsov himself. As Dribbble focuses on a monetization-first approach, the design community eagerly watches how this latest battle in the creative tech space will unfold. Here's everything you need to know, plus tips for navigating the future of creative platforms.

What Happened?

Dribbble’s Monetization Shift

Dribbble, a platform traditionally celebrated as a hub for inspiration and networking, has evolved into a closed marketplace. As of March 2025, the platform’s policies ensure that interactions between designers and clients are strictly monetized. Designers must process client transactions through Dribbble, which now takes a 3.5% commission on every deal unless users opt into its Pro subscription plan.

This policy requires users to refrain from sharing direct contact details or risk being penalized for "violating monetization terms."

Crucial Names in the Fallout

Gleb Kuznetsov: A top designer with over 210 million followers on Dribbble, Kuznetsov built a global reputation thanks to his work with mega-companies like Apple and Google. Kuznetsov’s decision to “go rogue” and share client information off-platform led to his permanent suspension.
Constantine Anastasakis, Dribbble's CEO: Appointed in 2024, Anastasakis has championed Dribbble’s monetization-first strategy.
Impact on Designers: Kuznetsov’s removal sparked outrage across the design community, many of whom have grown frustrated with increasing restrictions on creative freedom.

Kuznetsov Fights Back

In a bold move, Kuznetsov announced he is building a designer-first competitor platform to tackle the very issues that led to his Dribbble ban. Promising to marry AI-driven creativity with community empowerment, the platform focuses on collaboration, seamless client-designer relationships, and design tools powered by cutting-edge technology.

Startups like Kuznetsov’s show a growing trend of rebellion against platform monopolies. The new platform's AI tools aim to assist (not replace) designers by streamlining workflow, conceiving smarter prototypes, and providing faultless technical support.

Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs and Freelancers (2025 Edition)

How to Navigate Monetized Platforms
Platforms like Dribbble, Behance, and Fiverr are becoming increasingly restrictive as they attempt to monopolize client relationships. Here are the steps to keep your creative freedom intact:

Control Your Network: Build relationships off-platform by gathering contacts via social media or in-person events.
Diversify Portfolio Displays: Use multiple platforms, such as Behance or Awwwards, to ensure you’re not dependent on one marketplace.
Leverage Personal Branding: Maintain your website and act as your business’s face.

Smart Strategies for Designers Using Walled Platforms

Avoid losing visibility if banned: back up your portfolio regularly.
Don’t rely solely on third-party platforms. Set up direct channels like email newsletters or your website.

The Role of AI in Creative Startups
Kuznetsov’s new competitor integrates AI, a tool designed to enhance creativity instead of replacing it. Embrace such AI advancements to improve your workflow. Platforms like Figma AI and Miro already integrate AI naturally, making them staples for modern designers.

Common Mistakes Creative Entrepreneurs Should Avoid

Over-reliance on a Single Platform: Avoid dependency on platforms like Dribbble or Fiverr that can abruptly change policies. Diversify immediately.
Underestimating Networking: Never overlook the power of building a professional network outside digital platforms.
Ignoring AI: Entrepreneurs who fail to adopt AI-assisted tools risk falling behind competitors.

The Future of Creative Platforms

This controversy highlights the tension between platforms seeking higher profits and users demanding more creative freedom. As platforms prioritize monetization, innovator-driven movements like Kuznetsov’s new launch signal a shift toward tools that empower individuals rather than exploiting their work.

Both entrepreneurs and freelancers should remain agile, embrace AI-driven opportunities, and prioritize independence. For extra support, tools like the Fe/male Switch suite, including PlayPal, the F/MS Grant Finder, and startup-centric educational games, can offer significant advantages.

Final Words of Advice

Whether you’re a budding founder or seasoned designer, 2025 is demanding agility and innovation. Kuznetsov’s bold step is a reminder to challenge restrictive measures and disrupt industries. Platforms like PlayPal act as lifelines for navigating these complexities, while tools like the F/MS AI Grant Finder empower you to fund your vision.

Stay updated, stay creative, and most importantly, stay independent. Let creativity, not terms of service, define your success.

FAQ

1. Why was Gleb Kuznetsov banned from Dribbble?

Gleb Kuznetsov was permanently banned from Dribbble for violating its new monetization policy, which prohibits sharing direct client contact information outside the platform. This move was part of Dribbble’s shift towards a closed marketplace model. Read more about the ban

2. What are Dribbble's new monetization policies?

As of March 2025, Dribbble enforces strict monetization policies that mandate processing all client-designer transactions through the platform. A 3.5% commission is applied unless users subscribe to the Pro plan. Learn more about Dribbble's policy changes

3. Who is Gleb Kuznetsov?

Gleb Kuznetsov is a renowned designer and founder of the San Francisco-based studio Milkinside. Known for his work with companies like Apple, Google, and Mercedes-Benz, Kuznetsov had over 210 million followers on Dribbble before his account was deleted. Visit Milkinside

4. What is Canvas Collective?

Canvas Collective is Gleb Kuznetsov’s upcoming platform designed to offer AI-driven creativity tools and pro-designer terms in response to Dribbble’s restrictive policies. It aims to empower designers rather than exploit their work.

5. Why has Dribbble shifted to a closed marketplace model?

Dribbble’s CEO, Constantine Anastasakis, has focused on monetization-first strategies to grow platform revenues. This includes ensuring all freelance transactions flow through Dribbble for revenue capture. Read Constantine Anastasakis's insights

6. How have designers reacted to Dribbble’s new rules?

The design community has expressed strong backlash against Dribbble’s policies, citing loss of creative freedom and tight restrictions that alienate users. Many have started exploring alternative platforms. Check out alternatives to Dribbble

7. What innovative features will Kuznetsov’s platform offer?

Kuznetsov’s platform will feature AI tools to enhance creativity, enabling smarter prototypes, workflow automation, and seamless client-designer collaboration without restrictive policies.

8. Which current platforms compete with Dribbble?

Platforms like Behance, Awwwards, and emerging options like Canvas Collective and Figma AI are gaining popularity among designers frustrated with Dribbble’s restrictive policies. Explore Awwwards | Discover Figma AI

9. How can designers maintain independence from walled platforms?

Designers can avoid dependence on single platforms by maintaining personal websites, diversifying portfolios across multiple platforms, and leveraging social media and in-person networks.

10. What is the role of AI in creative platforms moving forward?

AI in platforms like Kuznetsov’s Canvas Collective or Figma AI is designed to streamline workflows and inspire creativity without replacing designers. This trend is reshaping how design work is approached. Learn about Figma AI

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.

Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).

She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.

Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain

Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.

CAD Sector:

Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.

IP Protection:

Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.

Blockchain:

Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.

For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about best hotels in Italy to work from.

About the Publication

Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch. The Fe/male Switch team is located in several countries, including the Netherlands and Malta.

Mission and Purpose

Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.

Key Features

The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:

Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials

Impact and Growth

Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:

3,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
100+ startup tools built
5,000+ pieces of articles and news written

Partnerships

Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.

Recognition

Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.