Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) company that aims to use the technology to help creators produce, distribute and merchandise their work.
The company, Lumi Story AI, will provide AI tools to help creators produce their work and will handle the logistics of distribution and merchandising via its platform, according to a Wednesday (July 24) press release.
“The platform empowers creators to work freely and independently, deciding when and how they want to collaborate with others,” Kaepernick, who is founder and CEO of the firm, said in the release. “This independence is crucial for fostering a vibrant and diverse creative ecosystem.”
The firm raised $4 million in a seed round led by venture capital (VC) firm Seven Seven Six, per the release.
Cristina Apple Georgoulakis, partner at Seven Seven Six, said in the release that recent technological advancements have made it possible for Lumi to realize its vision.
“Colin and the Lumi team have gathered valuable insights from creators about their concerns and needs, including the desire for control over their work and financial sustainability,” Georgoulakis said. “We believe Lumi is the perfect solution to a problem that has existed for decades.”
Lumi was inspired by Kaepernick’s experience in building media and publishing companies in recent years, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Wednesday.
Since the end of his NFL career, he has built out Kaepernick Publishing, created a youth education initiative called Know Your Rights Camp, and started a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that went into liquidation.
It was reported in 2021 that a deal to buy a company with the SPAC fizzled out.
Lumi aims to use its platform to help authors generate images to illustrate their books; to help illustrators add words to their images; and to help creators create and sell merchandise, according to the report.
The company will first launch a beta version focused on comic books and plans to later add other offerings, per the report.
“It allows us to help fill in the skill gaps of creators,” Kaepernick said in the report. “We are now building in that direction to try to up that up and democratize storytelling.”
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