Synthesia, a London-based startup that uses artificial intelligence to help companies create training and internal videos, has raised $200 million in new funding, lifting its valuation to $4 billion. The round underscores just how quickly businesses are turning to AI tools to retrain workers as job requirements shift and skills expire faster than ever.
Founded in 2017, Synthesia allows companies to create videos without cameras, studios, or on-screen talent. Its users simply type a script, and the platform generates a video presenter powered by AI.
What began as a way to simplify corporate communications has grown into a widely used enterprise product, with tens of thousands of customers globally, including multiple Fortune 100 companies. Businesses now use Synthesia for everything from onboarding new hires to training sales teams.
The Series E round was led by GV, with participation from Accel, Kleiner Perkins, NEA, and NVentures, among others. In addition to the primary raise, Synthesia facilitated a secondary share sale through NASDAQ, giving long-tenured employees an opportunity to sell part of their stake while remaining with the company.
Chief executive and co-founder Victor Riparbelli said the timing reflects a shift inside large organizations, where training has become a strategic priority rather than a support function.
“We see a rare convergence of two major shifts: a technology shift with AI Agents becoming more capable, and a market shift where upskilling and internal knowledge sharing have become board-level priorities,” Riparbelli said.
“We intend to build the defining company at that intersection, by combining our know-how in AI video with our ability to build and integrate AI technologies into products and services that solve real business needs.”
That shift is shaping Synthesia’s product roadmap. Beyond pre-recorded videos, the company is now rolling out conversational AI agents that let employees interact with training content by asking questions and exploring topics in real time, rather than passively watching videos.
The text-to-video startup has said early pilots show workers are completing training more quickly and retaining more information, though it did not disclose detailed metrics.
A homegrown AI company with global ambitions
The company’s growth has also drawn attention from policymakers. UK officials have highlighted Synthesia as an example of homegrown AI companies scaling globally while remaining based in Britain. Despite its expanding international customer base, Synthesia says it plans to continue growing its workforce in the UK.
“With companies like Synthesia calling the UK home, we can go further and faster in our push for AI to bring jobs, growth, and national renewal to hard-working people up and down the country,” Liz Kendall, the UK’s Secretary of State for Technology, said.
The fresh capital will go toward further product development and deeper integrations with enterprise software, as competition in AI-generated video intensifies. A growing number of startups are entering the space, while established software and media companies are also adding generative video features to their platforms.
At the same time, Synthesia is navigating the risks that come with scaling AI video technology. Concerns around deepfakes, misuse, and consent have pushed the company to strengthen moderation systems and expand programs that compensate actors whose likenesses are used to create AI-generated presenters.
For customers, the appeal is largely practical, with access to training videos that are faster to produce, easier to update, and cheaper to scale across large organizations. For Synthesia, the bet is that as work continues to change, companies will need learning tools that can adapt just as quickly.
The new funding gives the company the resources to push ahead – and the expectation that it can maintain its lead in one of AI’s fastest-moving and most competitive markets.
