Armenia Startup Academy is excited to announce that dzookAI, a one-click art creation platform and Spring 2019 batch graduate, has closed a pre-seed round led by SmartGateVC.
Dzook is building AI technologies making high-quality personalized illustrations available to everyone. Since launch in May and with $0 spending on marketing, dzook has reached users from over 98 countries leading to the creation of 70k+ illustrations. The awareness of dzookAI came from users who loved the illustrations and shared those on Social Media.
Dzook will be back on 26th on ProductHunt with a new “anime” style. Currently, the users of dzook.ai have access to a web-based platform and only one style called “Glam”. Users can either download their illustrated portraits or print those on diverse gift items and get those shipped to their door.
If you are a Product Hunt user who loves technology and art, follow dzook’s Product Hunt page and make sure to check it out on June 26th. If you are not familiar with Product Hunt get an account and stay tuned with the newest products launched on the platform.
“Hero House is a superhero base located in Yerevan, where a professional team teaches you how to turn your idea into a company and how to build a great product! We were new to the startup field when we got accepted into Armenia Startup Academy. Academy helped us in many different directions including pitching to public and investor. Most importantly, due to academy gained connections with mentors, speakers, investors, and other startup founders” says co-founder and CEO Agata Badalyan.
“Dzook’s AI technologies are different from what is on the market, because they are built for later usage by professional illustrators. In this view dzook is also building a modern AI based toolchain for illustrators over the world” says Vazgen Hakobjanyan, Partner at SmartGateVC and Co-founder of Catalyst Foundation.
“It's an absolute pleasure to work with the team. We see how they grow day by day with an exemplary gusto and enthusiasm” says Hambardzum Kaghketsyan, Partner at SmartGateVC and Co-founder of Catalyst Foundation.
With the vast popularity of the platform, the company plans to launch on IOS and Android this week, to provide its users with new ways to create illustrated portraits.
“Dzook is an exciting combination of AI, art & fun. I can't wait to see the launch of their products across various platforms” says Ashot Arzumanyan, Partner at SmartGateVC and Co-founder of Catalyst Foundation.
The new investment from SmartGateVC and angel investors should help the company with global expansion and product development.
About Armenia Startup Academy
Armenia Startup Academy is a pre-acceleration program for tech companies and startups aiming to prepare startups to raise their pre-seed rounds and expand to global markets. The program was launched in 2017 with the support of the European Union’s “Support to SME Development in Armenia” (EU-SMEDA) Project by Catalyst Foundation - an initiative of the founders of SmartGateVC.
Throughout the 5 cycles of the 3-month program, 90 startups and 220 entrepreneurs have been involved and a network of 100+ high profile professionals and mentors have been engaged with the companies. Program graduates have raised over € 3M of funding. About 31% of 52 alumni companies have female founders. The program provided opportunities to founders to participate in 175+ sessions, workshops, business breakfasts and dinners delivered by a network of 100+ high profile professionals spanning from Australia to Europe and Silicon Valley.