Lemon Slice, an innovative AI research and product lab specializing in interactive video, has publicly launched with a significant $10.5 million seed funding. The company introduced Lemon Slice-2, a groundbreaking real-time avatar model that transforms a single image into a dynamic, conversational video experience. This technology allows users to upload any photo, from a corporate headshot to an illustrated character, and instantly engage in a video-call-like interaction without the need for source video or custom model training.
Lemon Slice-2 is available in two formats: an API for developers and an embeddable website widget that creates a “video chat bubble” with minimal coding. This widget is marketed as a visual, conversational support tool for businesses, enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction by providing on-screen characters to assist with site navigation and inquiries.
The underlying technology of Lemon Slice-2 is a proprietary video diffusion transformer optimized for real-time interactions, capable of generating video frames from scratch with expressive animations and gestures. The company emphasizes its commitment to safety and consent, requiring users to verify permissions for submitted photos and voices, and implementing content moderation to ensure transparency in AI interactions.
The seed funding round was led by Matrix Partners and Y Combinator, with notable individual investors like Arash Ferdowsi and Emmett Shear. Lemon Slice is spearheaded by co-founders Lina Colucci, Sidney Primas, and Andrew Weitz, who bring expertise from prestigious institutions such as MIT and Harvard. With a team of eight, the company plans to use the new capital to accelerate its product and model development.
