Participated · Equity · Oct 2020

Didimo builds technology that creates lifelike digital human models from simple inputs such as a photo, enabling businesses and individuals to use those avatars for online interaction. The company plans an upcoming iOS and Android app launch and will use the new funding to expand its technology team, continue product development, and push commercialization and marketing. Didimo says its digital humans aim to bring emotion, empathy and nuance back to virtual interactions and has commercial traction in retail, gaming, and virtual collaboration. The startup reported having 27 employees and aims to grow the team to 35 by the end of the year. Didimo was founded in 2016 and has operations in Oporto, Delaware, and Vancouver. Its name means “twin” in Greek and the team emphasizes roots in academic R&D. Didimo builds high-fidelity, ready-to-animate 3D digital avatars generated from a smartphone photo or scan in about 20 seconds. The platform is designed for use across devices and media, with pilot programs underway with Sony, Amazon, CeekVR, Farfetch and others. The technology traces to Professor Verónica Orvalho’s computer-graphics research on capturing facial expressions and motion; many of the company’s 22 employees have backgrounds in high-end visual effects and game production. Didimo aims to bring authenticity and emotional nuance to digital interactions for brands and individuals, including applications that help socially isolated people. Financially, the company secured $6.9 million in seed financing (including grants) and a separate $2 million grant from the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. The new funding will be used to grow the technology team and establish strategic partnerships to further commercialisation.