AI Company Rembrand Secures $23 Million in Funding

The AI company Rembrand has successfully secured $23 million in Series A funding to enhance its AI-driven capabilities and explore new business avenues. This funding round was spearheaded by super{set}, with additional participation from The Trade Desk, Naver D2SF, and returning investors such as BOLD (L’Oréal’s venture capital arm) and Greycroft. In just two years, Rembrand has amassed a total of $31 million in funding and boasts a clientele that includes major brands like Pepsi, L’Oréal, and Amazon. Rembrand’s innovative technology employs AI to analyze video frames from platforms like YouTube and TikTok, identifying optimal spots for product placements. Unlike conventional AI that operates based on text or image inputs, Rembrand’s AI meticulously examines each video frame to pinpoint the perfect in-scene placement, whether it be on a table, shelf, or wall.

Expanding Horizons with New Funding

Armed with this investment, Rembrand is poised to expand beyond social media, aiming to integrate ads into connected TV and movies, as shared by CEO Omar Tawakol. The company is currently collaborating with a production studio specializing in travel and cooking shows, although the studio’s identity remains under wraps. Rembrand’s technology streamlines the traditionally cumbersome process of product placement, offering a more efficient and precise method for identifying ideal ad locations within each video frame. Tawakol highlighted the current challenges in movie product placement, noting that it often requires years of advance planning to get a product featured in a script. However, Rembrand’s technology allows for virtual product insertion in post-production, enabling targeted advertising. For instance, viewers in different regions could see localized products—Perrier in France and Pepsi in New York.

Opening Up and Monetizing AI Studio

In the coming first quarter, Rembrand plans to open its AI Studio to all creators, building on the beta program launched last summer. This platform empowers creators to seamlessly add virtual products to their videos, while brands gain direct control over their creator partnerships. Rembrand monetizes its services through a cost-per-impression model for products featured in videos, with creators earning based on the cost to reach a thousand impressions (CPM). Additionally, Rembrand is set to generate revenue through technology licensing, allowing brands to leverage Rembrand’s AI for their campaigns, bypassing the need for traditional CPM-based ad placements. The company also intends to introduce tools that enable creators to interact with virtual products in more dynamic ways beyond static placements.