500k DMCA takedowns, 18 months solo bootstrapped: competing with 4 funded US rivals in creator protection

Hey IH,

Chan here, French solo founder of Content Removal Desk (CRD). We automate DMCA takedowns for content creators (OnlyFans, MYM, Instagram, leak sites, Telegram).

18 months in, bootstrapped, here's the real state of things.

METRICS (dated 13 April 2026)

- 500,000+ pirated files removed for clients

- 500+ paying creators and agencies

- 99.2% removal success rate, under 24h average

- Native iOS app (launched Jan 2026)

- Google Trusted Copyright Program partner

- 5-figure MRR, profitable

STACK

- Frontend: React, Vite

- Backend: Supabase

- Mobile: Capacitor (iOS)

- Proprietary detection engine built in-house

THE MARKET

4 well-funded US/UK competitors dominate globally: Fanlock (just raised seed), Rulta, Bruqi, Ceartas. None operate in French or serve European creators well. I noticed this gap 18 months ago and built the first serious FR alternative, alone, no outside money.

WHAT WORKED

- Going deep on one market (French-speaking creators) instead of broad

- Building the iOS app early, before competitors

- White-label agency portal unlocked B2B deals worth 10x single creator contracts

- Public case studies with real named clients for credibility

WHAT DIDN'T

- First pricing was too low, had to re-price twice

- Early content marketing in English was wasted effort for a FR market

- Cold DMs without showing proof of work flopped. Now I pre-scan and show real leaks found before pitching

Happy to AMA on tech stack, DMCA automation, creator economy, pricing for niche SaaS, or anything else.

Site: https://contentremovaldesk.com

Press kit with dated metrics: https://contentremovaldesk.com/presse