Funding Round attributes
Mago, a Paris-based technology startup that specializes in AI-driven video transformation and stylization, has raised €1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by Atlantic Labs, a prominent European venture firm known for backing early-stage startups. The capital will enable Mago to expand its team and accelerate the development of its platform, with plans for a market launch in early 2025.
Founded by Alvaro Lamarche Toloza and Aleksandr Spirin, Mago is designed to empower creators in the professional video production industry by providing an AI-powered toolset to transform and stylize video content. Mago's software builds upon Spirin’s open-source video style transfer project, WarpFusion, which has already garnered significant attention online, amassing over 150 million views on social media. WarpFusion has also been adopted for use in high-profile professional productions, including music videos and television series.
Mago’s mission is to offer video creators an easy-to-use, advanced platform that allows for the transformation of any video—whether live-action footage or 3D animations—into a variety of visual styles. According to Lamarche Toloza, the software functions as a "universal filter for professional video," giving creators complete creative control over the aesthetic direction of their work.
“We aim to amplify creative capabilities, not replace them,” said Lamarche Toloza. He explained that Mago’s technology can instantly convert live footage into artistic styles like animation, oil paintings, and more, while ensuring high-quality, professional-grade results. By simplifying the production process, Mago helps creators accelerate their workflows, allowing them to achieve more with fewer resources.
Mago’s software is built to serve both professional video producers and smaller creative teams, offering advanced AI workflows that maintain artistic integrity while streamlining the technical aspects of video production. The company plans to provide both subscription-based Software as a Service (SaaS) and on-premise deployment options for users. A free version of the software is also in development, aiming to make the technology accessible to a broader range of creators.
Future updates for Mago’s platform will include integration with widely-used creative tools such as Unreal Engine and Blender, further enhancing the software’s utility for video production professionals.
The investment from Atlantic Labs comes as part of the firm’s continued commitment to supporting early-stage startups that aim to disrupt traditional industries with innovative technology. Atlantic Labs has previously backed category-defining companies like Soundcloud, GetYourGuide, and Clue. Alice Bardon Catineau, a partner at Atlantic Labs, expressed her enthusiasm about Mago’s potential, stating, “Mago’s approach to transforming video production with AI is a game-changer for creators. Alvaro and Aleksandr are seasoned creative professionals who have a strong vision for this technology. We’re excited to support the Mago team as they take this technology from France to the world.”
The funding will allow Mago to refine its platform, expand its development team, and lay the groundwork for the upcoming launch of its product. With the increasing demand for high-quality video content across industries such as entertainment, advertising, and social media, Mago is poised to address the need for more efficient and creative solutions in video production.
By reducing the time and resources required for video stylization, Mago aims to make advanced video transformation technology more accessible and useful to a broad range of creators, from independent filmmakers to large production studios. With its AI-powered tools, Mago seeks to redefine the creative possibilities in video production, offering professionals the ability to experiment with new visual styles without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
The company’s progress will be closely watched as it prepares for its official launch in 2025, positioning Mago as a potential leader in the AI-driven video production space.
