Former Microsoft Employees Secure $4 Million From Accel To Develop Artificial Intelligence Presentation Tool

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The Problem of Unused Screen Recordings

Product teams are no strangers to the issue of unused screen recordings. These videos often end up in a digital graveyard, never seeing the light of day due to the time-consuming and expensive process of video production. However, two former Microsoft employees aimed to change this by creating Lica, an AI tool that generates tutorials and product videos from screenshots and screen recordings.

The Founders’ Background

Lica was founded in 2023 by Priyaa Kalyanaraman and Purvanshi Mehta. Kalyanaraman, a seasoned product manager with experience at Microsoft, Snap, and Waymo, identified the need for AI-assisted video creation. She saw an opportunity to provide business users with design agents that could help them communicate more effectively.

"I wanted to start something, give everyday people design agents that help them communicate better," Kalyanaraman explained. "But I was on a visa, and it was challenging for me to start my own company. I built a small demo in a hackathon and put it on Twitter (now X), where Replit’s Amjad Masad saw it and expressed interest."

Mehta, who worked as a data scientist and project manager at Microsoft, was building projects focused on content personalization. A mutual friend introduced them both, and they decided to collaborate on a tool for video storytelling, driven by the need for more effective and efficient video creation.

Raising Funds to Fuel Growth

Lica has secured $4 million in a seed round led by Accel, with participation from South Park Commons, Village Global, and angels like Replit CEO Amjad Masad, former a16z general partner Balaji Srinivasan, and Replit president Michele Catasta. Aditya Agarwal, General Partner at Accel, emphasized the team’s unique approach to combining advanced AI capabilities with intuitive design.

"Lica differentiates itself by combining advanced AI capabilities with intuitive design in a single platform, allowing users to maintain creative control while benefiting from AI-assisted capabilities," he said.

The Solution: Lica

Lica’s AI-powered tool enables product teams to create high-quality videos without the need for extensive video production expertise. The platform utilizes machine learning algorithms to generate engaging and informative content from screenshots and screen recordings, reducing the time and effort required for video creation.

Market Competition and Differentiation

While companies like Zoom, Loom, D-ID, and Synthesia offer solutions for video creation, they often rely on manual input or avatars. Lica’s unique selling proposition lies in its ability to provide AI-assisted video creation with intuitive design, making it an attractive option for product teams seeking efficient and effective video production.

The Future of Video Creation

As the demand for high-quality video content continues to grow, tools like Lica are poised to revolutionize the way product teams approach video production. With its innovative use of AI and machine learning algorithms, Lica is set to become a leader in the field of video creation, empowering businesses to communicate more effectively with their audience.

What’s Next for Lica?

As Lica continues to grow and develop, it will be exciting to see how this innovative tool evolves. With its potential to streamline video production and reduce costs, Lica is an essential solution for product teams looking to elevate their content game.

Conclusion

The problem of unused screen recordings is a common issue faced by product teams worldwide. However, with the emergence of AI-powered tools like Lica, it’s now possible to turn these recordings into engaging and informative videos that resonate with audiences. As video creation continues to play an increasingly important role in business communication, Lica is poised to become a game-changer for product teams seeking efficient and effective video production solutions.