Introduction to Digital Avatars

A few years ago, the metaverse buzz led to the emergence of several startups focused on digital avatars. Although the buzz died down, generative AI has given new life to avatars, making it easier to create different virtual identities. Companies like D-ID, Synthesia, Zoom, Glance, Praktika, TikTok, and Captions are exploring various use cases for avatars in the enterprise, meeting, fashion, learning, and creator spaces.

The Need for High-Quality Avatars

Isaac Bratzel, the creator of popular virtual influencers like Lil Miquela and Amelia 2.0, believes that there is a lack of high-quality avatars that not only look great but also have personalized traits. This thought process led him to build AvatarOS, a company that aims to create high-end avatars in 3D space.

Background and Funding

Bratzel previously worked in design roles at IPSoft, Brud, and Dapper Labs. He started AvatarOS after leaving Dapper Labs in 2022. The company has closed a seed funding round of $7 million led by M13’s Latif Peracha, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz Games Fund, HF0, Valia Ventures, and Mento VC.

Company Goals and Differentiation

AvatarOS is in an exploratory phase to find the right product-market fit. The company is aware that customers don’t always want or need what can be done technologically or what is cool. Bratzel noted that AvatarOS is geared towards making high-end avatars in 3D space, rather than catering to a world of click-to-generate content. The company wants to focus on the avatar itself, creating permanent entities that can accrue value over time.

Current Developments and Future Plans

The company is currently onboarding beta users and giving them access to a few existing avatars. AvatarOS is also releasing a simple API that clients can use to integrate avatars with their sites. The startup is working on providing more tools for creation and adjustment to clients, with the main differentiation being the way avatars move in their space. The company will use the funding to grow its team and build out a machine learning-based deformer that is responsible for creating lifelike movements in avatars.

Unique Approach to Avatar Movement

Bratzel emphasized that the main thing important to AvatarOS is the way humans move uniquely. While other avatar solutions can create something that might look like a person but moves generically, AvatarOS wants to recreate the unique movements of humans. The company believes that this will be a key differentiator in the avatar space.

Conclusion

AvatarOS is a company that aims to create high-end avatars in 3D space, with a focus on personalized traits and lifelike movements. With its recent funding round and experienced founder, the company is well-positioned to explore the avatar space and find the right product-market fit. As the demand for high-quality avatars continues to grow, AvatarOS is poised to make a significant impact in the industry.