OptimizerAI Gains KRW 1 Billion Pre-Seed Investment from Global VC Andreessen-Horowitz
OptimizerAI, a Korean gaming and content tech startup based on AI technology, has secured a Pre-Seed investment of KRW 1 billion from the global venture capital firm Andreessen-Horowitz(a16z). This follows the company’s initial investment from Krew Capital, marking its first funding from a top-tier U.S. venture capital firm. The total amount of funding raised to date has not been disclosed.
Established in July 2023, OptimizerAI specializes in developing AI technology that streamlines the creation of resources necessary for game and content production. Their initial project involves developing a solution that allows generative AI to recognize various elements, such as text, audio, and video, in the production of games, YouTube videos, and TikTok content, and then generate appropriate sound effects (SFX). The company has successfully completed the development of a generative AI model that produces high-quality sound effects based on text recognition. In October of the previous year, OptimizerAI conducted an alpha version test with 100 participants, including game developers and advertising video producers, and received acclaim for significantly reducing both the cost and time involved in producing sound effects.
The founders of OptimizerAI, all of whom are college students, have garnered high praise from investors for their expertise as deep learning developers. After receiving their initial investment from Krew Capital in July of the previous year, they secured further Pre-Seed funding from a16z, leading to their participation in a16z’s game tech accelerator program, “Speedrun.” Speedrun is mentored by industry-leading founders from companies such as Discord, Twitch, Zynga, and Supercell. Through Speedrun, OptimizerAI aims to expand into the global market, with a focus on the United States.
Krew Capital, an early investor in OptimizerAI, focuses on investing in entrepreneurs who are poised to lead the next generation, particularly those involved in campus startups in Korea and the U.S. The firm is known for aiding Korean entrepreneurs in securing investments from prominent U.S. investors, thereby facilitating their entry into the global market.
Kohyeongmoon, CEO of OptimizerAI, commented, “We established OptimizerAI recognizing a market opportunity in the absence of specialized AI models for generating sound effects globally, a critical component in enhancing immersion across various content domains, including gaming.” He further stated, “Leveraging the investments from Krew Capital and a16z, we plan to release a closed-beta service in the first half of this year and continue to develop AI models that optimize the efficiency of game development.”
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