Yellow raises $5M from A16z for Gen AI-powered 3D modeling tool

by | May 9, 2024 | Technology

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Yellow has raised $5 million in seed funding from A16z Games to fund further development of its Gen AI-powered 3D modeling tool. With its YellowSculpt tool, artists can generate clean, pre-rigged 3D character meshes based on a text prompt in under three minutes.

Like 2D image generators, Yellow makes 3D character creation accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, YellowSculpt removes much of the work necessary to make 3D characters ready to animate and use in a game.

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YellowSculpt generates pre-rigged 3D humanoid characters.

“What sets Yellow apart is their focus on empowering human creativity through AI — they’re building tools that not only amplify today’s professional 3D artists but also make character creation accessible to all,” said Jack Soslow, Partner at A16z. “Yellow combines deep AI research capabilities with strong product and commercial instincts which we believe will enable the next chapter of human creativity.”

Yellow was cofounded in 2023 by CEO Mandeep Waraich, formerly Google’s Head of Product: Core ML – Large Models and Industrial AI, and Chief Scientist Prof. Vincent Sitzmann from MIT’s Scene Representation Group.

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In addition to Sitzmann, Yellow brought in more academic experts to overcome the technical challenges of delivering consistent, high-quality results. This includes Prof. Chris Rupperecht from Oxford University’s Visual Geometry Group and Prof. Ludwig Schmidt from Stanford’s Computer Vision group.

Industry uptake

In addition to boosting an artist’s creative output, YellowSculpt aims to reduce friction in other ways. Generated meshes integrate seamlessly with top game engines like Unity, Unreal and Roblox or other 3D authoring tools like Daz Studio, Maya and Blender.

Notably, Yellow forged an exclusive partnership with Tafi, the developers of Daz Studio, in January 2024. Yellow leveraged Daz’s 3D library, specifically its Genesis Character Content, to train its gen AI model. This partnership allowed Yellow to train its generative AI model in an ethical and IP-safe manner.

“Given Tafi’s market position as a leading 3D tooling/asset marketplace, we have talked with many 3D generative AI tool companies in the market …

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Join gaming leaders live this May 20-21 in Los Angeles to examine the strategies needed to adapt and excel in an ever evolving landscape, featuring insights from leading voices and thought leaders in the industry. Register here.

Yellow has raised $5 million in seed funding from A16z Games to fund further development of its Gen AI-powered 3D modeling tool. With its YellowSculpt tool, artists can generate clean, pre-rigged 3D character meshes based on a text prompt in under three minutes.

Like 2D image generators, Yellow makes 3D character creation accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, YellowSculpt removes much of the work necessary to make 3D characters ready to animate and use in a game.

[embedded content]
YellowSculpt generates pre-rigged 3D humanoid characters.

“What sets Yellow apart is their focus on empowering human creativity through AI — they’re building tools that not only amplify today’s professional 3D artists but also make character creation accessible to all,” said Jack Soslow, Partner at A16z. “Yellow combines deep AI research capabilities with strong product and commercial instincts which we believe will enable the next chapter of human creativity.”

Yellow was cofounded in 2023 by CEO Mandeep Waraich, formerly Google’s Head of Product: Core ML – Large Models and Industrial AI, and Chief Scientist Prof. Vincent Sitzmann from MIT’s Scene Representation Group.

GB Event
Countdown to GamesBeat Summit
Secure your spot now and join us in LA for an unforgettable two days experience exploring the theme of resilience and adaptation. . Register today to guarantee your seat!

Register Here

In addition to Sitzmann, Yellow brought in more academic experts to overcome the technical challenges of delivering consistent, high-quality results. This includes Prof. Chris Rupperecht from Oxford University’s Visual Geometry Group and Prof. Ludwig Schmidt from Stanford’s Computer Vision group.

Industry uptake

In addition to boosting an artist’s creative output, YellowSculpt aims to reduce friction in other ways. Generated meshes integrate seamlessly with top game engines like Unity, Unreal and Roblox or other 3D authoring tools like Daz Studio, Maya and Blender.

Notably, Yellow forged an exclusive partnership with Tafi, the developers of Daz Studio, in January 2024. Yellow leveraged Daz’s 3D library, specifically its Genesis Character Content, to train its gen AI model. This partnership allowed Yellow to train its generative AI model in an ethical and IP-safe manner.

“Given Tafi’s market position as a leading 3D tooling/asset marketplace, we have talked with many 3D generative AI tool companies in the market …nnDiscussion:nn” ai_name=”RocketNews AI: ” start_sentence=”Can I tell you more about this article?” text_input_placeholder=”Type ‘Yes'”]

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