ValkaAI, a Czech company based in Prague, has successfully raised €12 million in a pre-seed funding round. This significant investment aims to develop an instant, AI-powered interactive video platform, marking one of the largest early-stage funding rounds in the region. Founded in 2026 by Vlastimil Venclík and Miloš Lokajíček, the company focuses on creating real-time synthetic video content, including virtual commentators and digital characters that interact directly with events and users. The platform relies on fully controllable digital characters capable of performing in real-time, opening up new possibilities for interactive experiences in sports, esports, and entertainment media sectors. ValkaAI's teams are located in San Francisco, Prague, and Dubai, employing around 45 staff members, including former researchers from global companies like Meta and DeepMind. This highlights the company's commitment to combining technical expertise with global innovation. The funding round was led by Rockaway Ventures, in collaboration with J&T Ventures, Tensor Ventures, BD Partners, and Fond Naše Česko. This investment underscores confidence in ValkaAI's ability to redefine how sports and entertainment content is consumed and to create a new category in the interactive video market. With this new investment, ValkaAI plans to accelerate the development of its core technologies, including controllable digital characters and virtual commentators. They also aim to expand their research and development teams and the computing infrastructure needed for widespread deployment. The company will also support early commercial trials to demonstrate the platform's effectiveness in delivering advanced personalized and interactive video content. This move clearly demonstrates how instant AI can be used to create immersive digital experiences, blending technical innovation with real-time user needs. This positions ValkaAI at the forefront of leading startups in the global interactive video sector.
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