Kaltura, based in New York, announced that it has acquired the Israeli startup eSelf.ai for about $27 million. eSelf specializes in developing conversational avatars, AI-generated digital humans that can converse with users. This acquisition will enable Kaltura to integrate generative AI technology into its enterprise video and learning tools.

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the licensing service provider is Midjourney

eSelf was founded in 2023 by CEO Alan Bekker and CTO Eylon Shoshan. Bekker sold his first company, Voca, to Snap in 2020. The eSelf team consists of about 15 AI experts, who have strong voice-to-video generation and low-latency voice recognition technologies. These technologies allow digital avatars to interact with users in real time and even understand content on the user's screen.

Kaltura offers a range of cloud-based video solutions, including enterprise video portals, webinars, and virtual event tools. It has served over 800 enterprise customers across sales, marketing, customer service, and education. Kaltura's clients include large technology companies such as Amazon, Oracle, and Salesforce, as well as numerous banks, insurance companies, and universities.

Kaltura plans to integrate eSelf's virtual agent technology into its video products, enabling the agents to listen, speak, and understand content on the user's screen in real time. Ron Yekutiel, CEO of Kaltura, stated that the acquisition of eSelf is an important step in the company's strategy. After evaluating multiple companies, they believe eSelf is at the forefront of real-time conversation and voice recognition technologies in the industry.

With the development of AI technology, Kaltura hopes to transform the use of videos from simple content uploading and management into a more personalized and interactive user experience. In the future, Kaltura will launch embeddable independent agents that serve multiple areas such as sales, marketing, customer support, and training.

This acquisition is Kaltura's fourth, and previously, they have acquired companies such as Tvinci, Rapt Media, and Newrow. Since its listing in 2021, Kaltura has achieved approximately $180 million in revenue and maintained profitability.

Key points:

🌟 Kaltura acquired Israeli startup eSelf.ai for $27 million, enhancing AI capabilities in its video and learning tools.  

👥 The eSelf team has deep voice recognition and video generation technologies, allowing real-time interaction with users.  

📈 Kaltura hopes to improve enterprise user experience through AI and personalized videos, opening up new market opportunities.