Berlin AI Startup Mirelo Raises $41M to Add Sound to Silent AI Videos

A Berlin-based artificial intelligence startup just secured major funding. Mirelo has raised $41 million to develop AI that generates synchronized sound for videos. The seed round was led by top-tier venture firms Index Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz.

This investment highlights a growing race to add a crucial layer to AI-generated content. Sound is often the missing element in synthetic media. Mirelo’s technology aims to solve that by analyzing video to create matching sound effects and, eventually, music.

Competition Heats Up in Video-to-Audio AI

Mirelo is not alone in this space. While in stealth mode, larger players like Sony and ElevenLabs released similar models. Chinese tech firm Kuaishou also unveiled its Kling AI tool. According to TechCrunch, which exclusively reported the funding, this competitive pressure makes the new capital vital for Mirelo.

The startup plans to aggressively expand its team. Mirelo’s current staff of ten is expected to double or triple by next year. This growth will fuel research and help roll out its product, Mirelo Studio, to more users.

Focusing on a Sound Strategy for Creators

The company’s initial focus is on sound effects rather than full music tracks. CEO CJ Simon-Gabriel believes this is a smarter strategic moat. There is less research competition in AI sound generation compared to other AI fields. This allows Mirelo to build a stronger, more defensible position in the market.

The startup is targeting amateur and prosumer creators first. Its freemium model includes a plan for about $23 per month. The goal is to help users easily add professional-grade audio to videos made with AI tools like Sora or Luma.

The $41 million seed round validates the critical role of audio in synthetic media. As AI video generation becomes commonplace, Mirelo is betting that AI video sound generation will be the next essential frontier for creators and studios alike.

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What does Mirelo’s AI actually do?

Mirelo’s AI analyzes the content of a silent video. It then automatically generates and synchronizes fitting sound effects to match the on-screen action, like footsteps or environmental noises.

Who invested in Mirelo?

The $41 million seed round was led by Index Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz. Previous investor Atlantic Labs also participated, bringing Mirelo’s total funding to $44 million.

Who is Mirelo competing against?

Major competitors include Sony, ElevenLabs, and Kuaishou’s Kling AI. These companies have also released AI models that generate sound from video prompts.

How will Mirelo use the new funding?

The money will be used to significantly grow its team from 10 people. It will also accelerate research and the development of its creator platform, Mirelo Studio.

What about copyright issues with training data?

Investor Georgia Stevenson from Index stated Mirelo uses public and purchased sound libraries. The company is also pursuing revenue-sharing partnerships with artists to address copyright concerns ethically.