• Panopto acquires Elai.io, integrating its generative AI tools, including text-to-video, custom avatars, and voice cloning into its video learning platform
• The acquisition addresses the challenges of creating engaging, personalized learning materials by offering faster, cost-effective solutions with interactive and multilingual features
• This move strengthens Panopto’s position as a comprehensive video management platform, supporting the entire lifecycle of learning content from creation to delivery and impact measurement

This October, Elai.io – the Ukrainian AI startup specializing in video generation from written text – announced its acquisition by Panopto, the American video management and streaming platform for businesses and educational institutions.

Elai.io in a Nutshell

Started in 2022, Elai.io built a platform that uses advanced AI to create video content from plain text, simplifying the video production process for users at any skill level. Its features include AI-generated avatars, text-to-speech tools, and voice cloning in over 75 languages, making it possible to produce high-quality, engaging videos without cameras or traditional editing software. Users can transform blogs, scripts, or other written content into videos with rich visuals and professional audio narration, streamlining efforts for marketing, e-learning, and more. The platform supports diverse use cases like explainer videos, product reviews, and multilingual educational content.

Among the startup’s achievements is a winning spot at Vestbee’s CEE Startup Challenge in 2022. Elai.io’s solution was applicable for a wide range of use cases – from explainer videos for e-learning or eCommerce all the way to news broadcasts. However, the company decided to focus on corporate learning after all.

Elai.io’s early supporters include such renowned investors as the famous Estonian startup accelerator and VC Startup Wise Guys and the well-known Ukrainian fund SID Venture Partners.

‘They fit perfectly into our focus as a complex, technologically advanced product with a wide range of market applications. Elai.io’s AI-powered technology could potentially change the way businesses create content, making high-quality video production more accessible. It has the potential to revolutionize many industries,’ SID Venture Partners general managing partner Dmytro Vartanian stated.

‘Since then, Elai.io has become the leading AI video generation platform for corporate learning. We focused on a single vertical, Learning and Development, which helped us build strong brand recognition and allowed us to acquire top clients such as Deloitte and PwC,’ Elai.io’s co-founder and CEO Vitalii Romanchenko tells ITKeyMedia.

‘This is exactly the model we prefer – strong technical expertise and an ambitious team from CEE with quite a unique product… a strong technical team in the company, and in an overlooked market,’ Startup Wise Guys’ general partner Dag Ainsoo commented.

Speaking of the team, Elai’s co-founders bring over 30 years of combined expertise in software development. CEO Vitalii Romanchenko has an extensive background in managing products and projects for major global companies, contributing to widely recognized innovations. CTO Alex Uspenskyi, an experienced entrepreneur and engineer, previously founded Springsapps, a software development company. R&D lead Aleksey Pshenichniy is a seasoned AI/ML professional with a wealth of experience as both a practitioner and mentor in the field.

The three have now become Panopto’s Head of AI Product Strategy, Head of AI Engineering, and Head of AI Research respectively.

Panopto and What It Gains

Panopto is a video management and streaming platform designed for educational institutions and enterprises. It enables users to create, share, and organize video content such as lectures, training sessions, and presentations. The platform features AI-powered tools for content search, accessibility with captions in multiple languages, and robust integrations with systems like Zoom and learning management platforms. Panopto supports on-demand learning, live streaming, and interactive features to enhance engagement. Its global clientele includes universities and businesses focused on scaling knowledge sharing and improving training efficiency.

‘Generative AI transforms how enterprise organizations work and learn, operationalize teams, innovate processes, and engage with their employees. With traditional training methods, creating learning content at scale can be cumbersome and costly. With the capabilities of Elai added to the Panopto platform, we’re equipping our customers with a complete solution to create, deliver and personalize the video learning journey,’ Panopto’s CEO Jason Beem states.

‘Workforces are getting smarter, especially with new technologies that optimize the delivery of scalable training, like AI-generative content. Platforms like Panopto, with their recent acquisition of Elai and integrated video learning capabilities, provide a range of options for organizations seeking to create and deliver training content. While these advancements offer potential benefits in terms of efficiency and scalability, it’s important for business leaders to carefully evaluate their specific needs and consider the full range of available solutions,’ Aragon Research‘s CEO and founder Jim Lundy comments.

By acquiring Elai.io, Panopto tackles the demand for fast, engaging, and personalized learning content using generative AI. Traditional methods are slow, often leaving materials outdated, while modern learners expect immediacy. With lifelike AI avatars, interactive quizzes, and branching options, Panopto’s offerings empowers creators to deliver dynamic experiences efficiently, and features like smart chaptering and intelligent search ensure the right materials reach learners on time, enhancing both quality and accessibility.