The Rise of Online Video and AnyClip's $47 Million Funding

Video content is currently the dominant force driving online activity, projected to constitute 82% of all internet traffic this year. A startup focused on enhancing video parsing, indexing, and discovery has recently secured significant funding to fuel its expansion, following a remarkable 600% growth period.

AnyClip: AI-Powered Video Analytics

AnyClip leverages artificial intelligence alongside conventional search methods to deliver superior video analytics for content providers. This allows for improved utilization and viewing experiences of video assets. The company has raised $47 million to further develop its platform.

Investment Details and Valuation

JVP spearheaded the funding round, with participation from La Maison, Bank Mizrahi, and existing investors. While the exact valuation remains undisclosed, sources indicate it's approximately $300 million, bringing the total funding raised to $70 million.

Addressing the Challenge of Video Search

Founded in Tel Aviv and now co-headquartered in New York, AnyClip addresses a core issue: the sheer volume of video content available online. Despite being a widely consumed medium – from streaming services to business communications – effective video search remains a challenge.

Current search methods often fall short due to algorithmic biases and the inherent difficulty of efficiently indexing vast video libraries.

How AnyClip's Technology Works

AnyClip employs advanced technologies, including deep learning, computer vision, NLP, speech-to-text, OCR, patented key frame detection, and closed captioning. These tools enable the system to "read" video content, identifying people, brands, products, actions, and keywords.

This allows for the creation of customized taxonomies based on content category, brand safety, or specific client requirements.

Speed and Efficiency

AnyClip processes videos hosted on AWS with exceptional speed, reportedly “10x faster than real time.” This rapid indexing is crucial for delivering timely and relevant search results.

Diverse Applications of the Technology

The resulting data offers numerous potential applications. AnyClip is gaining traction with clients seeking to better organize video content for internal use, B2B applications, and enhanced consumer discovery.

Furthermore, the technology facilitates improved video monetization by enabling targeted advertising based on identified objects, themes, and language within videos.

Impressive Client Roster

AnyClip’s client list includes prominent companies such as Samsung, Microsoft, AT&T, Amazon (Prime Video), Heineken, Discovery, Warner Media, Tencent, Internet Brands, and Google.

Collaboration with Google

Although not a direct investor, Google has provided funding through its News Initiative’s Innovation Challenge. This supported AnyClip’s development of a streaming video page experience for media companies, mirroring popular video-on-demand services with advanced AI-powered management tools.

AnyClip’s solution allows companies to transform existing libraries into “Netflix or YouTube-like” platforms with channels and subchannels in under 30 seconds.

A History of Innovation

AnyClip’s origins trace back to 2009, initially focused on enabling media companies to create and share film clips. This early concept, akin to a precursor to Giphy, allowed for content discovery through algorithms and human curation.

However, the timing proved challenging due to piracy concerns and the lack of established streaming platforms. The company subsequently pivoted to a video-based ad network, which also faced early adoption hurdles.

Positioning for Future Growth

Despite these early challenges, the underlying technology proved valuable. AnyClip now benefits from patents and a dedicated engineering team focused on expanding its capabilities. The company aims to maintain a competitive edge against players like Kaltura and Brightcove.

The company’s growth, achieved with relatively modest funding ($30 million over 12 years), demonstrates its ability to secure business and operate efficiently in a resource-intensive industry.

Vision for the Future of Enterprise Video

“There is a revolution coming in the way enterprises use video to convey their message and their identity”, states Erel Margalit, JVP founder and Chairman. “For the first time, AI meets video. Companies and organizations are now working to utilize this to create a new mode of communications, internally and externally.”

Margalit emphasizes the growing importance of video in areas like consumer engagement, internal training, and intelligent management of video conferences, positioning AnyClip as a crucial tool for organizations embracing this new era.