Runway ML

Runway is an applied AI research company shaping the next era of art, entertainment and human creativity.

Founded

2018

Employees

1-10

Customers

Microsoft, CBS, Nick, Google, Ogilvy

Funding

$237m

Funding Rounds

4

Categories

Depts likely to use:

OTT functionality:

Type:

SOLUTIONS

Runway offers a suite of creative AI tools designed to transform the way digital content is created and edited.

Key products include a versatile AI tool that enables users to generate realistic images and animations from text descriptions, enhancing visual storytelling.

They also provide video editing software powered by AI, which simplifies complex video effects and automations, making high-quality production accessible to more creators. Additionally, Runway offers collaboration tools that facilitate seamless integration of AI into creative workflows, promoting efficiency and innovation in projects.

Their platform is built to support a wide range of users, from individual artists to large media companies, empowering them with cutting-edge technology to push creative boundaries.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Runway merges artificial intelligence with creative processes to provide innovative tools and platforms for artists, filmmakers, and creators.

Established to advance human creativity, Runway offers a suite of AI-powered applications that assist in generating and editing digital media, including text-to-image and video manipulation tools.

With a focus on research and development, the company collaborates with leading institutes to push the boundaries of AI technology, aiming to democratize creative potential and empower global storytellers.

FINANCES

RunwayML has experienced significant growth in funding over the years, culminating in a total of $236.5 million raised across various rounds. Their fundraising journey began with smaller rounds and progressively grew, reflecting increasing investor confidence and the expanding scope of their technologies.

The company’s Series A funding was secured in December 2020, raising $8.5 million led by Amplify Partners among others. This early funding was aimed at enhancing their suite of AI-powered tools for media creation​ (Runway AI)​. In December 2021, Runway raised $35 million in a Series B round, again reflecting the growing enthusiasm for their technologies designed to democratize creative tools through AI​ (Runway AI)​.

The most substantial growth in their funding came with the Series C rounds. Initially, in December 2022, Runway raised $50 million in a Series C round led by Felicis Ventures. This round also saw participation from a diverse group of investors including the CEOs of major tech companies, which underscored the strong market confidence in Runway’s vision and products​ (Runway AI)​. A significant extension to this round came in June 2023, where they raised an additional $141 million with notable participants like Google and NVIDIA. This funding was targeted at expanding their research and development efforts, further enhancing their generative AI technologies​ (Runway AI)​.

This pattern of funding highlights the robust support Runway has garnered, underscoring its potential impact on the creative industries through AI advancements.

FURTHER READING