Indonesian AI startup Bythen secures $5M to Virtual Influencer Landscape

the concept of virtual influencers—computer-generated characters that engage audiences on social media platforms—has gained immense popularity. Bythen aims to democratize this space by providing tools that enable users to create and monetize their own AI-powered digital avatars, known as “Bytes.” These avatars can autonomously generate content and interact across various platforms, offering creators new avenues to expand their online presence and income streams.

Company Overview

Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, Bythen is the brainchild of a team with a rich history in digital innovation. Kevin Mintaraga, Erick Saputra, Ferry Dianto, Nathalia Isadora, and William Nagata are all founding members who have worked with each other before at Magnivate, a digital agency acquired by WPP in 2012, and at Bridestory, acquired by Tokopedia in 2019. Serial entrepreneur Mintaraga was Chief Marketing Officer at Tokopedia following the acquisition of Bridestory and left the company in September 2023.

Read also: Daash an AI-powered beauty insights platform has raised $5.5 million

Funding Details

The $5 million seed funding round was led by Vector Inc., a Japanese public relations and marketing company, and Skystar Capital, an Indonesian venture capital firm. The round also received additional investments from East Ventures, BEENEXT, OSK, and AppWorks. Prominent angel investors William Tanuwijaya and Ryan Lee also participated in this seed round, securing strong conviction in Bythen’s vision and potential.

• Global Expansion: Onboard 15,000 virtual influencers into the platform, and target markets are Web3, gaming, and entertainment, all of which have a more global reach. These would be part of new markets, and their establishment would contribute to a more global presence.
• Technological Development: The technological advancement of AI in the digital avatars used in the platforms for more advanced and interactive forms, thus improving tools for user-generated content as well as interacting with audiences.
• Content Collaboration: Creating original IP collections and partnering with leading international IP owners to create diverse content offerings and reach a wider audience.

Platform Features

Bythen’s platform features a set of features designed to empower virtual creators:

• Personalized Digital Avatars (“Bytes”): Users can design unique, ownable digital characters that reflect their personal brand and style.
• Autonomous Content Generation: These AI-powered avatars can create and distribute content across platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and various social media channels, operating 24/7 to maximize engagement.
• Live Streaming and Video Calls: The platform supports live streaming and video calls on services such as Zoom and Google Meet, allowing avatars to interact in real-time with audiences.
• Revenue Sharing Model: Bythen operates on a revenue-sharing basis, thereby allowing the creators to directly benefit from the content produced by their digital avatars.

Market Context

The global creator economy is growing exponentially, with over 200 million content creators that contribute to a market valued at approximately $325 billion. Most of these creators, however, are struggling to scale their presence and monetize their content. Bythen solves the problem by making AI-driven tools accessible to amplify reach and income generation with little overhead.

Read also: Raspberry AI Secures $24M to Generative-AI Design in Fashion

Competitive Landscape

Although the virtual influencer market is still in its infancy, several companies are experimenting with AI-driven content creation and digital avatars. Bythen stands out by focusing on user-owned digital characters and a revenue-sharing ecosystem that aligns the company’s success with that of its creator community. This approach fosters a collaborative environment where growth and innovation are shared objectives.

Future Prospects

Having the funding secured, Bythen is all set to take a good leap in the virtual influencer market. Company’s plans to expand globally, technological enhancement, and strategic collaboration seem to reflect the commitment toward shaping the future of digital content creation. Through enabling people all around the globe to become virtual influencers, Bythen is destined to play a critical role in the development of the creator economy.

Summary

Bythen’s successful seed funding round marks a significant milestone in its mission to democratize the virtual influencer space. The innovative AI-driven tools and revenue-sharing ecosystem created by Bythen allow creators to tap into the full potential of digital avatars. As the creator economy expands, Bythen’s platform is scalable and accessible for people looking to create and monetize their digital presence.