David Baszucki

Keep an eye on Rembrand, a digital platform using AI to add virtual product placement into videos. They just raised $23 million from savvy investors like Tom Chavez and others. The concept is relatively simple and has been around for a while, but the company is definitely getting some traction. Rembrand began with YouTube and expanded to LinkedIn, TikTok and Instagram. They’ve also worked with about 20 brands including those under PepsiCo, L'Oréal, and Amazon. The company is led by CEO Omar Tawakol, who has great startup experience. He sold data management platform BlueKai to Oracle in 2014 and voice collaboration platform Voicea to Cisco in 2019. It’s another intriguing use of AI and video, and it gives advertisers another weapon in their arsenal as they monetize content. What other uses of AI advertising have you seen that impresses you?

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Intel co-founder Andy Grove built his reputation around the mantra, "only the paranoid survive." The company's history is a reminder that innovator's dilemma happens to all firms, and "what got you here won't get you there." https://lnkd.in/gBPDx6AM

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I'm beyond excited about Meta's latest reveal, Orion. It’s not just a huge step toward bringing Augmented and Mixed Reality into our everyday lives, but it’s also opening up new possibilities for creators to shape what that future looks like. At the cusp of innovation, AR & XR developers, 3D artists, and creators of all kinds have the chance to come together and explore innovative ways to build a future that’s educational, breathtaking, life-changing—and yes, fun! I imagine a future where AR is vast, diverse, and constantly evolving. I want to see the wild, creative, silly, inspiring, and even emotional things people will make—creations that leave us in awe, whether they amaze us, comfort us, or even scare us! I truly believe that artists can thrive in the augmented reality space, and with OURSCAPE, we aim to create a platform that makes this possible. OURSCAPE is a marketplace and ecosystem where businesses and developers connect, where creators can collaborate, share ideas, and most importantly, upload their work. For developers and artists, when you upload your AR-ready products—whether it’s a 3D model, rigged asset, or interactive solution—businesses can discover and purchase your work. You get paid, and your creation doesn’t just sit around; it could be seen in advertisements, augmented billboards, interactive posters, and much more. But it doesn’t stop there. OURSCAPE will also be a space for creators with marketing skills to advise businesses on AR solutions. I’m planning to create diverse categories to ensure there's a place for everyone in this ecosystem. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the difficult times many artists are facing, especially with the growing concern of AI replacing creative jobs. I’m firmly against the idea of AI replacing artists entirely. With OURSCAPE, I hope to offer a platform that empowers artists and proves that human creativity will always have a place in this ever-evolving landscape. #AugmentedReality #MixedReality #MetaOrion #ARFuture #CreativeTech #3DArtists #ARMarketplace #ARCreators #ImmersiveTech #ARForBusiness #XRCommunity #FutureOfWork #ARAdvertising #CreatorsUnite #ArtInAR #EmpoweringArtists join ourscape & sign up to the waitlist https://lnkd.in/e3J4-WTP

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Spotted in Lioness! Check out this clip featuring an HTC VIVE headset in action. Can you name which VIVE headset is being used? Drop your guesses in the comments below! https://lnkd.in/g4cjgMTT #HTCVIVE #VRinAction #LionessSeries

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I've been researching the history and underlying technology of Generative AI, and it's history goes back to the 1960s. The Perceptron was an early form of the neural network that today's Generative AI is built on. Give this a watch if you are curious about what it is! (Warning: it's math)

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🚀Exciting News! AGS LABS / ALES GREY™ has been invited to pitch at FoundersBoost LA’s spring cohort and the Alliance for Southern California Innovation SoCal Venture Pipeline program at Google! If you’re an investor, please join us on June 4th for an exclusive joint Demo Day by FoundersBoost LA & the Alliance for SoCal Innovation! 🌟 The Alliance and FoundersBoost are joining forces to showcase some of the top young companies in LA! In addition to hearing the amazing pitches, you’ll be able to network with other investors, incredible mentors, supporting partners, program leaders, and the startup founders. Refreshments will be served. 🍹 📌 IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a private invite event due to capacity constraints and to maintain a value-add atmosphere. Sign Up Link Below. https://lu.ma/lademoday Don’t miss this opportunity to discover and support the next big thing in innovation! 🌐 #FoundersBoost #DemoDay #Innovation #Startups #Investors #Networking #PitchEvent #AGSLABS #ALESGREY #SoCalInnovation #GoogleEvents

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Dedicated fan engagement, through user generated content, is transforming film. More and more, top IP creators are extending their creative works natively across gaming and metaverse platforms, meeting their audiences where they naturally spend time. This transformation from a commerce economy towards a UGC economy stands to help IP creators better drive reach, engagement and revenues. The latest exclusive from Patrick Frater at Variety: Roblox and Fortnite will be key marketing platforms for the launch of Toei Animation Inc.’s upcoming English-language film “Hypergalactic," through their collaboration with Spaceport.xyz. In a world accelerated by AI generated content, Spaceport, at scale and speed, can maintain licensing rights, transfer funds from revenue sharing agreements and authenticate real (vs fake) digital collaborations. “Spaceport’s technology allows IP owner Toei to leverage UGC by licensing ‘Hypergalactic’ content to multiple game developers and content creators simultaneously and at scale. This builds a much larger pool of content for users to choose from and provides the brand more opportunities to resonate with new and existing fans,” the companies said. They describe this as a “transformation from retail economy thinking to a UGC economy strategy.”

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ACTION SHOT: Iconic Arts Chief Technology Officer Omar Abdelwahed breaking down to our investors how our proprietary AI World Builder works. "Think of what Wix or Squarespace did to empower anyone wanting to make websites without knowing how to code. Our tool enables creators to materialize worlds for UGC platforms such as Fortnite, Roblox or any multiplayer native environment, as if they were painting." What once took a dev team minimum 3 months, now takes anyone 3 days - all while remaining control of art direction. It's been a complete game-changer for us to market test our IP within multiple types of game formats, content strategies and merchandising plays on these UGC platforms while simultaneously building a participating community and fan-base. But this only works if the cost is ultra low and the speed is ultra high. Traditionally, market testing and validation for original IP happens after hundreds of thousands / millions are already spent to get something made that is good enough to test. But by then, it's usually too late when studios realize it's not going to work and all that money goes down the drain. We see this all the time with games, films and shows getting shelved or even worst, entering "development hell". And then we wonder why they say the "entertainment industry is broken". This is why. The economics simply do not make sense for a sustainable and scalable model. For this reason, we took a "Silicon Valley approach" when building Iconic Arts as the premier next-gen entertainment company that doesn't just embrace and leverage new technology, we build the very tools that solve the problems of a broken industry. I love our team and honored to be building very powerful tools that I know will also empower creators and storytellers around the world. Benjamin Grubbs Shane Kokkines Motoki Tani Alec Griffen Roth Matthew Medney Mo Yazdani Rob Carroll

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Dude Perfect raised $100M for global biz expansion. The deal is getting lots of buzz, but our team’s math signals challenges ahead. Let’s break it down… DEAL DETAILS • $100 - 300M growth capital investment • Led by Highmount Capital • Unclear if 100% invested upfront OR draw down of commitment over time • No previous capital raised USE OF FUNDS • Hire mgmt team to expand biz • More live experiences incl int’l tour, consumer products • Grow content formats, frequency, channels, global localization e.g. animation, TV, movies, streaming • Extend brand beyond 5 founders by building talent network • New HQ in Frisco, TX as prod facility and “family-friendly entertainment destination”: – Retail store, podcasts / gaming / fan UGC spaces, trick shot tower, DP museum, mini golf, restaurants – Original plans for 3-story, 30 acre facility est to cost $100M+, 2 yrs to build COMPANY OVERVIEW: Dude Perfect • Digital-native comedy and sports media brand • Faith-based mission: “We’re about giving back, spreading joy and glorifying Jesus Christ”  • Other YouTube franchises: “Stereotypes,” “Overtime”, “Bucket List”  • Media brand also incl books, mobile games, board games and toys, and merch / retail / food and beverage partnerships • 25 current team members PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS • 60M YouTube Followers, 17B views • Est 2024 revenue: $50M per DP • Est 2023 and 2022 revenue: $25M and $20M per WSJ  • Consumer product partnerships incl Nerf toy line, Columbia Sportswear • Partnered with A Parent Media co to launch a streaming service • ESPN “30 for 30” doc premiering at Dallas Int’l film festival • TV series on CMT in 2016, later aired on Nickelodeon • Alternate broadcasts for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football • 4 live nationwide tours as of 2023 ORIGIN STORY • Founded 2009 by 5 friends at Texas A&M • Cofounders = twins Coby Cotton and Cory Cotton, Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert • Started as YT channel featuring trick shot videos INVESTOR OVERVIEW: Highmount Capital • Growth stage and middle mkt PE fund for tech, media, healthcare • Founded in 2023 by jason illian and David Hawkins • 4 team members on website + advisor • 3 team members have faith-based ties per bios • No other investments listed on website other than DP My takeaway... I really like and support the trend of increased investment into YouTubers and digital-native media brands. But as I wrote about in my 2024 State of Creator x Media capital markets reports (will link them below), investment must match market and opportunity size. To ensure good ROI, and to set good precedent for future investment into our space. The DP bet is exciting, but could be overly optimistic based on our prelim math. My colleague Michael Booth's post breaks the math down (link below). More analysis to come in my Friday newsletter. —- I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do m&a and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My dm’s are open. #media #agency #creatoreconomy

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Friends, Q2 was a quarter of progress and learning for us at HawkTower, where we invest in early-stage startups applying breakthrough computing technologies to maximize California's natural resource markets. Our focus is on technology-enabled interventions (e.g., AI-enabled geospatial radars for lithium-ion batteries in the waste stream) for critical, market-level imperatives (e.g., disaster prevention) that can drive rapid commercial adoption (e.g., placed on every recycling truck in the world). Our current investment priorities are: - Agricultural productivity and efficiency - Biomanufacturing - Labor and mobility automation - Waste stream optimization and decarbonization - Disaster prevention and management Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve been up to: Milestones and Investments: - In late April, we officially launched our fund, filing with the SEC. Yay. - By June, we completed our first fund close ahead of schedule, with backing from family offices, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and organizations aligned with California's future. - Our portfolio now includes three early-stage investments (Farm-ng, Agriful Software, and Nexstera Tech). Strategic Partnerships: - We believe that startups operating closer to their customers and resources, especially in agriculture and biomanufacturing, have a strategic advantage. For instance, the Salinas Valley, a major agricultural hub, is less than an hour from Silicon Valley and serves as a center of thought leadership in the convergence of agriculture and AI (from Western Growers, Taylor Farms, and others). - Similarly, the North San Joaquin Valley is emerging as a biotech and agtech innovation hub, and we are proud to support BEAM Circular, a startup hub for the circular bioeconomy. Key Relationships: - Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular, joined HawkTower as a strategic advisor. - Jackie Cruz, Ed. D. Cruz, Hartnell College’s VP of Advancement, advises on Salinas Valley and workforce development. - Ben Palone from Western Growers, with his technical background in agriculture, became a trusted advisor. - Matthew Hoffman from Driscoll's Global R&D team provides insights on global agriculture, product positioning, and investment strategy. - We collaborated with Monterey Bay DART for workforce development and automation in agtech. - Dominic Milano and the Milano Technical Group from Merced collaborated on key initiatives and advised us on investments. - HawkTower is participating in Santa Cruz Works's accelerator cohort as a mentor and advisor. Thank you Doug Erickson. - We published an overview of entrepreneurship across the UC system with input from across the University of California system. Moving into the fall, we remain deeply committed to supporting founders shaping California's future natural resource markets. Stay tuned and be in touch! : ) Db

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Is Paramount's Tech Transformation Just a Pipe Dream? In the ever-evolving landscape of media, David Ellison’s announcement about transforming Paramount into a tech powerhouse stirred quite the conversation. Including by me: https://lnkd.in/eBsi2xbi But as we dive deeper, several challenges emerge, casting shadows of doubt over this ambitious pivot. #1. Financial Feasibility With Paramount grappling with substantial debt and pressing financial obligations, notably hefty NFL payments, the costs of attracting top tech talent become a significant concern. Can Paramount realistically afford this tech overhaul amidst economic uncertainties and a struggling stock? The talent war isn't won on ambitions alone, especially when competitors like Google offer more stable havens. #2. Creator vs. Coder Paramount’s tech ambition, while necessary, seems at odds with maintaining the creator-friendly environment Ellison dually promised. In an era when interest rates have climbed, balancing tech innovation with creative freedom is a tightrope walk. Remember, even Netflix, once a haven for creators with its blank checks during #ZIRP, is tightening its purse strings. How can Paramount navigate these waters without the cushion of a tech giant's capital or rising stock prices? 3. Building vs. Buying Tech Infrastructure David Ellison’s plan for Paramount involves a substantial commitment to developing in-house tech capabilities, focusing on cloud services, AI, user interfaces, recommendation algorithms, and ad-serving technologies. This approach aims to differentiate Paramount from competitors and enhance user experience. However, the tech sector’s history suggests leveraging established third-party platforms could be more cost-effective and reliable. Giants like Disney have successfully integrated platforms like BamTech, while HBO initially utilized external technology before transitioning. AMC Networks similarly relies on Brightcove for streaming technologies. The pivotal question for Ellison is whether the potential benefits of custom-built solutions justify the investment and risk, especially when patching together proven third-party solutions might yield quicker and more economical results. #InEssence... These challenges are monumental, yet not insurmountable. As we watch Paramount’s narrative unfold, one thing is clear: transitioning into a tech entity is more than just a strategic pivot—it’s a gamble on the future of entertainment itself. Thoughts? #Paramount #StreamingWars #MediaTech

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For my Investors, Family Offices, and Film Entrepreneurs in Los Angeles: We're heading to Los Angeles October 11th -13th for a meetup and birthday celebration of one of our producers. You're welcome to come. Here's the link to RSVP: https://lu.ma/sc6plybi Hollywood Birthday Bash & Exclusive Film Investment Meetup ​I’m excited to announce a special two-day celebration in Hollywood for a dear friend whose team has produced over 100 films and TV shows, including the iconic Fast and Furious franchise. ​But this event is more than just a birthday party! We’re inviting investors and family offices for an exclusive opportunity to discuss our Film Investment Fund and the unique benefits of investing in the entertainment industry. ​Why Attend? ​Networking: Build meaningful relationships with top investors, producers, and key industry players. ​Investment Opportunities: Learn how our fund focuses on smaller-budget films that maximize equity returns while minimizing risk. ​Industry Insights: Hear firsthand from those who have successfully navigated the film business and discover why film and entertainment can be a smart investment choice. ​Creative Control & Financial Gains: Understand how to leverage tax incentives, distribution channels, and the digital landscape to boost returns. ​Join us for a celebration filled with Hollywood flair, great conversations, and the potential for exciting new collaboration

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Episode 080: Founding Dreamtonics: Redefining Music with AI Vocal Synthesizers In this episode, I sat down with Kanru Hua, founder of Dreamtonics, the company behind innovative AI-powered vocal synthesizers. What began as a teenage hobby grew into tools that empower music creators to bring their ideas to life. Kanru shares how persistence, curiosity, and a deep understanding of musicians’ needs shaped Dreamtonics. His journey highlights how AI can complement creativity, offering musicians a new instrument rather than replacing artistry. If you’re into music production, AI, or the future of creativity, this conversation will inspire and intrigue you. Watch the full episode here:

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