MITO AI, a collaborative AI platform transforming how films, commercials, and music videos are produced, has closed a $4.5M preseed round led by Paul Murphy at Lightspeed Venture Partners. The round attracted participation from Kibo, Kfund, Sequoia and A16Z scouts, and LifeX, alongside angel investors including five unicorn founders and executives from USV, Roblox, and Github.
The Madrid and San Francisco-based startup is developing AI orchestration tools designed for real-time video creation and collaboration. Its platform serves filmmakers, brands, and creative teams looking to work together without the friction of traditional production workflows.
Rethinking Video Production Through AI
MITO brings foundational AI video, image, and audio models together with professional-grade editing tools on a single infinite browser-based canvas. The platform functions as a multiplayer environment where individuals and teams can experiment and develop ideas with support from an AI copilot that executes specific actions on command.
The toolset covers the full spectrum of production tasks. Users can move from moodboarding and storyboarding through scripting, camera angles, visual effects, and multi-format deliverables without switching between applications. The approach prioritizes speed while maintaining creative control and consistency.
“Our mission is to unleash human creativity,” said Danny Saltaren, MITO cofounder and CPO, National Design Award recipient, and former Head of Product Design at two unicorns. “By automating the tedious parts of production, we give storytellers the freedom to focus on originality, depth, and vision. MITO is built with filmmakers for filmmakers, merging human emotion with cutting-edge AI.”
Building an Ecosystem Beyond Software
MITO’s vision extends past its collaboration platform. The company has established an AI-powered audiovisual studio that’s already working with top TV and movie production companies. This operational arm demonstrates the platform’s capabilities while generating real-world feedback from professional productions.
The startup is also developing a curated marketplace of generative creators, positioning itself as a bridge between AI tools and the creative professionals who will define their use. This three-pronged approach addresses different aspects of the same challenge: making AI video creation both accessible and professional.
Who’s Behind MITO
Launched in 2026, MITO AI emerged from the intersection of design expertise and AI technology. The founding team includes Danny Saltaren, whose background includes leadership roles at two unicorn companies and recognition through a National Design Award.
The company operates with dual headquarters in Madrid and San Francisco, reflecting both European design sensibilities and Silicon Valley’s technical ambitions. This geographic split positions MITO to serve creative communities across time zones and markets.
MITO’s stated mission centers on democratizing storytelling tools and providing global visibility for a new generation of creators who work natively with AI.
Strong Backing for Creative Tech
Lightspeed Venture Partners led the preseed round through partner Paul Murphy, bringing expertise in early-stage consumer and creative technology investments. The firm joins a diverse group of backers that spans institutional funds and individual operators.
Participating funds include Kibo, Kfund, and scouts from Sequoia and A16Z, firms known for backing ambitious technical platforms. LifeX also contributed to the round. On the angel side, MITO attracted five founders who built unicorn companies, plus executives from prominent tech companies including Union Square Ventures, Roblox, and Github.
This investor base provides MITO with both capital and operational knowledge across creative tools, platform building, and marketplace dynamics. The funding will accelerate development of the collaboration platform and expand the audiovisual studio’s production capabilities.
