London-based AI video platform Synthesia, co-founded by CEO Victor Riparbelli in 2017, has achieved a valuation of $4 billion following a $200 million fundraising round announced in January. The company initially aimed to enable users to "make a Hollywood film from a laptop" but struggled to gain traction, with over 100 investors initially rejecting the idea. Mark Cuban invested $1 million in 2017, valuing the company at $5 million.

After four years of middling results, Synthesia pivoted its business model around 2020-2021, shifting its focus from film studios to providing AI video tools for enterprise clients, including training videos and presentations with AI avatars. This strategic change led to rapid growth, with the company now serving over 60,000 enterprise customers globally, including PepsiCo, Mondelez, and Heineken.