Berlin-based startup Mirelo has raised $41 million in seed funding to tackle a problem many AI video tools still ignore: sound.
While generative AI has made video creation dramatically easier, much of that content remains silent or poorly scored. Mirelo is building AI systems that understand what’s happening on screen and automatically generate synchronised sound effects that match motion, action, and context.
The funding round was led by Index Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from existing backers including Atlantic, bringing Mirelo’s total funding to $44 million.
Turning Video Understanding Into Audio Intelligence
Earlier this year, Mirelo released SFX v1.5, an AI model designed to analyse video content and generate time-aligned sound effects. Rather than producing generic audio, the system interprets visual cues to determine what sounds should occur and when.
The release quickly drew interest from investors focused on the future of gaming, content creation, and immersive media, where believable sound design plays a critical role.
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Competing In A Fast-Moving AI Category
Mirelo is entering a space that is rapidly heating up. Major technology companies and well-funded AI labs have already launched video-to-audio experiments, including players linked to Sony, Tencent, ElevenLabs, and Chinese platforms.
Instead of competing broadly, Mirelo has chosen a narrow, specialised focus on sound effects rather than full music generation, allowing it to move faster and build depth in a less crowded technical niche.
To stay ahead, the company plans to significantly expand its team. According to co-founder and CEO CJ Simon-Gabriel, Mirelo expects to double or even triple its current headcount over the next year.
From APIs To A Full Creator Workspace
In the near term, the company expects most revenue to come from API usage, with its models already available on platforms such as Fal.ai and Replicate.
At the same time, the company is investing in Mirelo Studio, a browser-based workspace aimed at creators who want hands-on control over sound design. While currently positioned for enthusiasts and prosumers, the long-term goal is to support fully professional production workflows.
Pricing follows a freemium model, with a creator-focused subscription priced at around €20 per month, making it accessible to users looking to enhance AI-generated video without hiring sound designers.
Training Data And Creator Rights
As generative AI faces growing scrutiny around data sources, Mirelo is taking a cautious approach. According to Index Ventures, the company trains its models using public-domain and licensed sound libraries, while also establishing revenue-sharing agreements that respect the rights of original audio creators.
This strategy aims to avoid the legal and ethical pitfalls that have challenged other AI media companies.
Why Sound Effects Come First
Both Simon-Gabriel and co-founder Florian Wenzel are AI researchers with backgrounds in music, and audio generation is firmly on Mirelo’s long-term roadmap.
For now, the company is prioritising sound effects over music, partly because the field is less saturated and offers more room for defensible innovation.
The belief inside Mirelo is simple: without sound, AI video can never reach its full potential.
Sound doesn’t just accompany visuals it shapes emotion, tension, and meaning. The same sequence can feel entirely different depending on the audio layered onto it.
Positioned For A Noisy Future
The rise of multimodal AI models means video generators are unlikely to stay silent forever. Major platforms are already experimenting with built-in audio.
Rather than seeing this as a threat, Mirelo views it as validation. As the industry catches up to the importance of sound, specialised tools that do it well could become essential infrastructure for creators.
About Mirelo
Founded in Berlin, Mirelo develops AI models that bring sound to generative video. By analysing visual content and producing synchronised sound effects, the company helps creators transform silent AI videos into immersive experiences for games, media, and digital storytelling.
