Startup Artomatix Secures €2.7M Investment Round

Artomatix, an award-winning artificial intelligence (AI) software firm, has completed a funding round lead by Suir Valley Ventures totalling €2.7 million EUR. The investment will help the Dublin-based firm, whose patented software has been proven to reduce the time needed for expensive 3D art creation by as much as 80%, to accelerate their market delivery worldwide.

Artomatix uses machine learning to radically speed up the slowest (and most expensive) part of the scan-based artistic workflow. Textures and backgrounds in 3D game-space have been radically enhanced by scan-based design, and photogrammetry is fast becoming the gold standard for high-end 3D content generation high-end 3D content in games, movies, industrial prototyping and interior design, enabling studios to deliver groundbreaking results.

Photogrammetry unlocks the key to incredible content, however end results can often take months or even years to deliver, and requires significant investment. The hotly anticipated remake of cult classic game Resident Evil 2 from Capcom (scheduled for worldwide release in Jan 2019) has been in development since 2015. The game uses scans of real world clothing, for example, to ensure movie-quality textures and finishes.

Artomatix uses neural-nets to drastically reduce the time needed to handle many aspects of the scan-based artistic workflow. Their software has been exciting 3D artists at AAA Studios around the globe, who took note when NVIDIA awarded the firm $100K and the label of most promising start-up in 2015. Since that time, it has been further developing its software and building its client base; it is now focused on using these new funds, totalling €2.7 million, to accelerate market delivery worldwide.

Artomatix CEO, Joe Blake, said, “The really exciting thing for me is to see how 3D design concepts pioneered in the entertainment space have become standard for product design and visualisation within mainstream industries like fashion, furniture and automotive. With an increasingly global audience, this investment will allow us to scale rapidly, and reach those international markets.”

Suir Valley Ventures Managing Partner, Barry Downes, said, “We believe Artomatix not only complements our existing portfolio, it also allows us to access the new convergence of 3D design and AI. Artomatix technology is about to change every industry exposed to 3D content, cutting costs, speeding up the rendering process and enabling the creation of truly groundbreaking graphics.

Artomatix operates in a high growth sector. According to a 2018 report by Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence LLP, the computer graphics market is expected to reach US$212 billion by the end of 2023 (up from US$151 billion the year before), due to hyper growth in demand, driven by new platforms like AR/VR, increasing internet penetration and smartphone usage. A mushrooming media and entertainment industry is driving demand for high end software solutions, alongside new demand from automotive and industrial design sectors. The same report cites Artomatix as a major industry player, alongside NVIDIA, Pixar, Adobe Systems and others.