Indian AI firm backed by Dune and Odyssey visual effects studio valued at $2 billion in fundraise
Brahma, an Indian enterprise AI content start-up that is backed by the visual effects studio behind Dune, has raised funds at a $2 billion valuation.
Brahma AI, an Indian start-up that makes artificial intelligence-generated audiovisual content for enterprise customers, on Wednesday raised $150 million from a local private equity firm at a valuation of $2 billion.
Brahma is owned by Indian media and entertainment firm Prime Focus through its UK-based subsidiary DNEG, which runs the visual effects and animation studio behind blockbuster movies such as the Dune series and "The Odyssey."
"Brahma AI has also received a further $100 million of investor demand and will evaluate an upsize of the round to accommodate some or all of that interest," Prime Focus said in a statement, adding that it will hold a 66% stake in Brahma AI through DNEG after the fundraise.
The enterprise AI startup secured the funds from Indian private equity firm Multiples Alternate Asset Management.
Brahma AI said it was focused on delivering technology used in high-end movies and TV productions to enterprises and content creators across every industry.
"Our ambition is much bigger: to build the AI-native technology platform through which the world's leading enterprises manage, understand, create and transform their audiovisual assets," Prabhu Narasimhan, founder and chief executive of Brahma AI, said in the release.
"We are close to launching interactive digital humans," he said, referring to the company's stated ability to replicate the precise likeness and persona of real individuals to make digital interaction as authentic as a face-to-face encounter. He added that Brahma's tech stack will be model-agnostic.
In February last year, Brahma acquired UK-based Metaphysic, a company that creates generative AI media in real time and was ranked among the 100 most influential companies in 2023 by Time magazine.
Narasimhan said he saw Brahma AI combining the technology stack and capabilities developed across DNEG, Metaphysic and Prime Focus to build an AI-native platform for the world's largest enterprises, as per the release.
Brahma AI is "built on a unique heritage of Hollywood-grade technology and enterprise innovation," Renuka Ramnath, founder, managing director and chief executive of Multiples Alternate Asset Management, said following its investment.
