Vochi Raises $2.4M for AI Video Editing App

VOCHI Secures $2.4 Million to Enhance AI-Powered Video Editing

VOCHI, a startup originating from Belarus, has successfully obtained an additional $2.4 million in a “late-seed” funding round. This follows their initial $1.5 million investment, which was spearheaded by Genesis Investments, a Ukraine-based firm, in the previous year.

Investment Details and Company Growth

The recent funding round included participation from TA Ventures, Angelsdeck, A.Partners, Startup Wise Guys, Kolos VC, and angel investors associated with Belarus’ Verv and Estonia’s Bolt. Concurrent with this financial boost, VOCHI has promoted Anna Buglakova, the company’s first employee and former head of marketing, to the role of co-founder and chief product officer.

Empowering Creators with Innovative Technology

VOCHI’s core mission, as stated by co-founder and CEO Ilya Lesun, is to simplify the creation of professional-quality video edits. The aim is to enable users to produce distinctive and trending content for social media platforms, thereby increasing their visibility and popularity.

Under the Hood: Computer Vision and Rendering

The company achieves this through a unique, proprietary computer vision algorithm designed for video segmentation. This technology allows for the application of diverse effects to specific moving elements within a video or to elements within still images.

“Our technology utilizes two trained convolutional neural networks for semi-supervised Video Object Segmentation and Instance Segmentation,” Lesun explains. “Furthermore, our team has engineered a bespoke rendering engine for video effects, facilitating instantaneous application in 4K resolution on mobile devices, all without compromising quality.” The processing speed is also notable, with effects being applied within seconds.

Expanding Features and User Base

The initial seed funding was strategically allocated to bolster marketing efforts and accelerate product development. This resulted in an expanded catalog of over 80 unique effects and more than 30 filters.

A Diverse Range of Editing Tools

The app currently provides a suite of tools for achieving specific video aesthetics, such as dreamy, artistic, or 8-bit styles. Users can also highlight motion with glowing lines, apply blurs and motion effects, utilize various filters, integrate 3D objects, and add decorative elements like glitter or sparkles.

Inspiration and Social Sharing

Beyond direct editing, VOCHI features a vertical home feed where users can discover edits created by others. This serves as a source of inspiration, allowing users to quickly apply similar effects to their own videos with a single tap. Finished videos can then be easily shared across platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

Global User Demographics

While headquartered in Belarus, VOCHI’s primary user base consists of young adults in the U.S. Significant user populations also reside in Russia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and various European countries, according to Lesun.

Freemium Model and Subscription Options

VOCHI distinguishes itself with a generous free tier, offering access to approximately 60% of its effects and filters, alongside fundamental editing tools. Advanced features, including effect customization, exclusive presets, and specialized effects, are available through a subscription. Subscription options include a weekly fee of $7.99 or a 12-week plan for $39.99, with a one-time purchase option of $150.

Growing Subscription Revenue

Currently, around 20,000 of VOCHI’s 500,000 monthly active users have opted for a paid subscription, and this number is experiencing a month-over-month growth rate of 20%, the company reports.

Navigating Challenges in Belarus

The company’s achievements are particularly noteworthy given the challenging political climate in Belarus. A repressive regime has been actively suppressing dissent, resulting in arrests and violence.

Last year, employees of PandaDoc, a U.S.-based enterprise startup, were arrested in Minsk as a form of retaliation for their protests against President Alexander Lukashenko. Additionally, Imaguru, a prominent startup hub in Minsk and the birthplace of MSQRD (acquired by Facebook), was forcibly shut down by the Lukashenko regime.

Continued Success Despite Adversity

Despite these obstacles, VOCHI was recognized as App of the Day in the App Store across 126 countries and achieved monthly revenues of approximately $300,000.

Looking Ahead

“Personal videos are becoming increasingly central to our lives and serve as a vital form of self-expression,” stated Andrei Avsievich, general partner at Bulba Ventures, where VOCHI was incubated. “VOCHI empowers individuals to explore inspiration, learn, and express their creativity through video. The positive reception from both users and investors, reflected in the revenue and oversubscribed funding round, is truly encouraging.”

The newly acquired funds will facilitate VOCHI’s progression towards a Series A funding round, enabling them to attract more creators, enhance user engagement, and expand the app’s feature set, according to Lesun.