Dublin-based startup Retrograde, which aims to create a viable AI alternative to talent management for creators, has secured €1.8 million in a pre-seed round led by Elkstone, with participation from Jack Pierse and several business angels. The fresh funding will be used to expand its operations to the US.
- Founded in 2023 by Jake Browne, Grace Beverley, and Gary Meehan, Retrograde offers an AI-based agent designed for creators focused on securing brand deals. The platform empowers creators of all sizes to effectively monetize their audiences through its AI-driven application.
- The company has already attracted millions of followers to its waitlist before onboarding talent.
- According to Goldman Sachs, the creator economy is estimated to be worth $480 billion by 2027, with brand deals accounting for approximately 80% of all transactions within the space.
Details of the deal
- The pre-seed round was led by Elkstone, a Dublin-based investment management company that supports Irish entrepreneurs, with additional backing from several business investors, including Jack Pierse.
- The capital raised will enable the startup to develop an AI AutoPilot to assist content creators and influencers globally, as well as support its entry into the U.S. market.
"I can’t thank our investors enough for seeing our vision and sharing our aim of democratising the creator space using AI," Co-founder at Retrograde, Grace Beverley, commented on LinkedIn.
