From Shark Tank to Silicon Valley: How One Startup Is Changing the Future of Online Interaction

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After selling his last AI venture to Meta, Awais Shafique is back with a bold new project: Beyond Presence, a Munich-based startup set to revolutionize digital interactions with hyper-realistic avatars. The company has just secured $3.1 million in pre-seed funding, led by HV Capital, with participation from investors at 10x Founders, Alba VC, and industry veterans from Meta and DeepMind.

Beyond Presence is on the verge of launching its innovative technology, which aims to create lifelike avatars capable of real-time, conversational interactions. According to Shafique, the funding will be used to finalize their foundational models and roll out a public beta by the end of this month. With around 300 companies already on the waitlist, early applications are expected in customer service, recruitment, sales, and e-learning sectors—areas where businesses are keen to enhance user engagement without the hassle of hiring and training more staff.

So, how did Beyond Presence attract such significant funding before even launching a product? The answer lies in the impressive backgrounds of its founders. Shafique previously co-founded Presize, a computer vision startup known for its groundbreaking technology that captures user measurements through a smartphone camera. Their appearance on Germany’s version of “Shark Tank” led to a record-breaking funding round and culminated in Presize’s acquisition by Meta in April 2022. Though the sale price remains undisclosed, sources suggest it was a lucrative deal, allowing Shafique and his co-founders to focus on their next venture.

With Beyond Presence, Shafique aims to tackle a significant challenge in computer vision—creating a digital avatar that not only resembles the user but also functions seamlessly in real-time interactions. While digital avatars aren’t new, the demand for hyper-realistic representations has surged with advancements in AI and smartphone technology.

Shafique acknowledges skepticism surrounding avatar technology, particularly given the diverse approaches currently being explored. Some companies prioritize anonymity over realism, while others, like Synthesia, offer tools that capture expressions but aren’t suited for live interactions. Beyond Presence’s unique proposition is to deliver avatars that can be generated on-the-fly, enabling users to engage in unscripted conversations just like they would face-to-face.

To achieve this, Beyond Presence is integrating sophisticated technologies. Voice capabilities are powered by Eleven Labs, while OpenAI’s GPT serves as the generative AI backbone. Businesses will have the flexibility to use their preferred models or let Beyond Presence handle it all.

Interestingly, despite being accepted into Y Combinator, Shafique and his co-founder opted to retain their equity and independence. They are focused on advancing their core technology without outside influence, reflecting a commitment to building something truly unique.

As Beyond Presence prepares to launch, the potential for transforming digital interactions is immense. With its lifelike avatars, the startup is set to redefine how we connect online, making virtual conversations more human than ever.

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