A startup behind a 3D content generation platform has emerged from stealth with a $4.2m funding round.
London-based Rival, which was founded in June 2023, now plans to grow its team with more ML/AI engineers and expand its presence in the U.S. market. The company has already assembled a top team of engineers with experience at the likes of Google, Meta, and Amazon.
The pre-seed funding round was led by Speedinvest, with participation from New Renaissance Ventures and a number of high-profile angels.
Rival users will be able to convert any 2D video to an immersive 3D experience using the startup’s first-of-its-kind 2D-to-3D foundational AI model. The Rival content platform is compatible with Meta Quest headsets, with early access now available to the 2D-3D conversion model and support for other headsets, including Apple Vision Pro and Pico, in progress.
The firm’s 3D AI technology hopes to unlock spatial computing’s potential, allowing users to create, share, and explore immersive content.
The London-based startup began as a side project for co-founders Alexander Oppermann, a London School of Economics graduate who previously worked at GIC, the sovereign wealth fund for Singapore, and Konrad Melzer, a machine learning software engineer previously developing security software for the German FBI.
Oppermann said: “We’re building a platform that removes technical barriers, enabling a new generation of creators to shape immersive digital experiences.
“Our technology solves the critical content gap that’s currently limiting the potential of spatial computing.”
Victor Huerbe, Principal with Speedinvest’s Marketplaces & Consumer investment team, said: “Spatial computing is at an inflection point, but the biggest gap is content.
“Rival is solving this with AI that makes 3D creation effortless, unlocking a whole new wave of immersive experiences.”
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