See the pitch deck this AI studio used to raise $12 million to become the ‘Y Combinator for IP’

• UK-based Wonder Studios raised $12 million to expand in the US and invest in original IP.
• The AI studio aspires to be a Y Combinator for IP, focusing on creative-friendly tools.
• With clients like Google and Universal Music, it plans to double its workforce by early 2026.

UK-based Wonder Studios — one of a growing crop of AI startups targeting Hollywood — has raised $12 million in seed funding and aspires to become a kind of Y Combinator for content.

Wonder, which launched in April, said the funding was led by Atomico, alongside existing backers LocalGlobe and Blackbird. Other investors included Adobe Ventures, Upside Ventures — a VC firm launched by the UK YouTube group Sidemen — and Joaquin Cuenca Abela, CEO of the creative AI company Freepik. Also participating were Nigel Morris, a former Dentsu executive, and Erik Huggers, chairman of EveryoneTV and former Vevo CEO. All in, Wonder has raised $15 million.

The company does commercial work for brands and artists, helps content creators extend their IP, and makes original content. It says it recently surpassed $1 million in revenue, working on commercial, music video, and documentary films for clients such as YouTube, the BBC, Google’s DeepMind, and Universal Music Group. It plans to use the new funding to expand its US presence and invest in original IP. It aims to double its staff of 15 full-time employees by the end of March 2026.

Wonder enters a cluttered space. At least 65 AI studios have launched since 2022, according to a 2025 report by FBRC, a company that advises studios on AI. Most are small and bootstrapped, and far from reaching household-name status. A few have stood out by offering proprietary products — like Moonvalley, parent of AI film studio Asteria, which built a homegrown AI model. Many are still seeking ways to distinguish themselves. For those courting venture capital, the pressure is greater: they must prove a path to big returns.

“A lot of artists are trying to figure out how to get the most out of these products. There’s a lot of choice paralysis right now,” said Todd Terrazas, cofounder of FBRC and a well-known connector between entertainment and tech.

Wonder Studios’ pitch

The founders say Wonder blends creative expertise and tech tools to help studios and independent creators grow and scale their works. They say they carefully vet the tech companies they work with, such as voice cloning startup ElevenLabs, where cofounder Justin Hackney previously worked.

“We are looking for partners that are doing this for the long run, doing this the right way, and with creators in mind, rather than tools out there that are cheaper, faster, maybe better in some respects,” Hackney said.

The firm also offers a Wonder app, where studios and job seekers can connect.

“A24 nailed brand; Wonder’s going to nail community,” cofounder and CEO Xavier Collins said, referring to the independent film darling.

The firm’s goal next year is to release more original IP and extend existing IP. It’s working on a documentary with Campfire Studios, the production company behind “The Menendez Brothers.” One project underway adapts kids’ books to animated films.

Wonder also sees opportunity in the rise of micro dramas, made-for-mobile vertical series that traditional studios have begun exploring.

“I can see a world where we partner with a traditional director and we test out a piece of IP, maybe in a micro drama-style format on social media that builds an audience, that builds their IP, their ownership,” Collins said. “And then they’re able to turn around and go to a studio and make a $40 million film, but they can do it with battle-testing the IP in a way that’s never been possible before.”

Check out select slides from the pitch deck that Wonder used to raise its new round, shared exclusively with Business Insider. Some slides that contain sensitive information have been omitted.

Wonder describes its mission as connecting filmmakers and technologists.

It describes its business model as an “iceberg.”

“Above water” refers to its moneymaking services. Below it sit other aspects of the company: its platform, which helps creatives find work, and a workflow productivity system.

Wonder has a full-service creative studio.

It says it uses AI to make commercials, music videos, docs, and branded films faster than conventional methods.

Wonder’s backers span the entertainment and tech industries.

They represent VC firms as well as the creator economy, advertising, Hollywood, and Big Tech.

Wonder’s founders talk up their creative background.

Justin Hackney, the chief creative officer, was a filmmaker before moving into AI, becoming creative director at ElevenLabs. Xavier Collins, CEO, is a serial entrepreneur who’s worked at Uber and Deliveroo.

Wonder has partnered with a who’s who of tech.

Investors, clients, and tech partners include ElevenLabs, Google, and OpenAI.

Wonder works across industries.

Its work is mainly in commercials, music videos, and docs, but it aspires to work with top film directors.

It touts a video it made for Universal Music Group.

Wonder produced a fully AI-generated video for Scottish pop musician Lewis Capaldi’s song “Something In The Heavens.” It described the video as “exploring the boundaries between reality and imagination.”

Wonder styles itself as an ally of creators.

It wants to help independent creators get discovered.

Wonder said a goal is to acquire films from up-and-coming creators and distribute them. If it can sell the film to a major studio, it says it would split the revenue evenly with the creator.

A new sci-fi series showed Wonder’s capabilities.

Wonder’s founders stressed that although the series uses AI characters, an approach that has been criticized as displacing jobs and devaluing human artists, it also created work for many people working in film.

Wonder sees applications for AI in animation.

It’s working with a writer to turn classic children’s books into an animated series.

Wonder wants to capitalize on the creator economy.

It has an app that aims to connect independent creators with job opportunities.

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