Hedra Secures $32M Series A to Scale Digital Characters
Hedra, a pioneering startup in AI-driven video generation, has closed a $32 million Series A funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz’s Infrastructure fund (a16z Infra).
This latest investment brings the company’s total funding to $44 million, with participation from a16z Speedrun, Abstract Ventures, and Index Ventures. Additionally, Matt Bornstein from Andreessen Horowitz has joined Hedra’s board.
Hedra Powers Up with $32M for AI-Driven Videos
Founded in 2021 by Michael Lingelbach, a former stage actor and AI researcher from Stanford, Hedra harnesses its Character-3 model an advanced AI system combining text, visuals, and audio to create digital characters that exhibit natural expressions and movements.
Its flagship platform, Hedra Studio, empowers users to produce vivid and engaging videos effortlessly. Since launching in 2024, Hedra has rapidly gained traction, attracting over 3 million users and enabling the creation of more than 10 million videos.
The platform has become a favorite among content creators and marketers alike, playing a key role in viral trends such as “talking baby podcasts,” where AI characters engage audiences with humorous dialogues.
With the new funding, Hedra plans to triple its team size from 20 to 60 by the end of 2025, while enhancing the Character 3 model to offer greater customization and interactive features.
The company also aims to open an office in New York City to better support enterprise clients.
Setting itself apart from generic avatar creators, Hedra focuses on delivering high quality, controllable digital characters that meet the needs of both individual creators and businesses seeking scalable, cost effective video solutions.
