Promise Adds Google As Strategic Investor To Develop AI-Assisted Films

Promise, the generative AI studio launched in late last year by YouTube veterans George Strompolos and Jamie Byrne, and filmmaker Dave Clark, announced a strategic investment from Google’s AI Futures Fund, part of an expanded seed round that also includes Michael Ovtiz’ Crossbeam Venture Partners, Kivu Ventures, Saga Ventures, and notable angels including Emery Wells (Frame.io) and Aaron Levie (Box). Earlier investors The North Road Company, founded by Peter Chernin, and Offline Ventures also participated.

The round reflects growing investor confidence in Promise’s vision: building a new kind of studio from the ground up for AI-native storytelling. Promise is currently developing its own IP, including the hybrid GenAI action project NinjaPunk, and building internal infrastructure like MUSE, its proprietary production pipeline.

Google’s involvement goes beyond capital. The company has partnered with Promise to collaborate on technical R&D, early model testing, and co-marketing efforts. Through this relationship, Promise is working directly with DeepMind and Google’s AI teams, with early access to tools like Gemini and Veo.

“Promise is one of the most forward-thinking studios we’ve encountered,” said Jonathan Silber, Co-Founder of the AI Futures Fund at Google. “Their work with advanced video models is helping to define how generative AI can enhance cinematic storytelling and unlock new creative frontiers.”

Strompolos, who built Fullscreen and sold it for $850 million before launching Promise, described the partnership as a natural fit. “Jamie and I speak both languages—tech and talent,” he said. “That’s why we’ve been able to attract not just strategic capital, but true collaborators like Google.”

Michael Ovitz, the former CAA founder and an investor via Crossbeam, echoed that sentiment. “The future of cinematic storytelling belongs to those who don’t just use new tools, but invent them,” he said. “That’s what George, Jamie, and the team are doing at Promise.”

Strompolos and Byrne were early believers in digital-native creators. “Back at YouTube, everyone else wanted to license studio content. We were the weirdos saying: the real story is these new creators,” Strompolos recalled. That perspective now informs their approach to generative media. “A lot of the talent coming into this space aren’t hobbyists—they’re filmmakers who’ve been waiting for this moment. They don’t want to be influencers. They want to be Ridley Scott. But until now, there hasn’t been a system for them to plug into.”

Promise’s strategy is to develop original IP in-house, bringing in outside talent with projects well suited to AI that they can work on together. The company recently acquired Curious Refuge, the world’s largest AI filmmaking school, which has trained over 4,000 creators across more than 170 countries. Curious Refuge plays an important role in upskilling VFX and other artists already working in the industry. Importantly, the acquisition ensures Promise has a robust research arm. “The models change every week,” Strompolos said. “Staying ahead means learning in public. That’s what Curious Refuge does best.”

NinjaPunk, a visual development project led by co-founder and chief creative officer Dave Clark, is one example of how Promise is merging GenAI tools with traditional stunt choreography and mocap. “You can’t prompt your way into a choreographed fight scene,” Strompolos said. “So we’re inventing the pipeline we need, solving technical problems in the context of IP we believe in.”

While NinjaPunk is in R&D, Strompolos confirmed that Promise expects to begin production on its first feature-length film later this year. The studio’s upcoming slate spans animation, sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.

“We’re not doing work-for-hire,” Strompolos said. “We’re building original stories with a small team, at high fidelity, on a fast timeline. This feels like indie filmmaking again—except with better tools and more ownership.”

As for the bigger picture, Strompolos sees AI enabling a shift from industrial to artisanal filmmaking. “In three to five years, we’ll look back and see this as the beginning of a new golden age,” he said. “Smaller teams. Higher quality. More risk-taking. And more people telling the stories they were born to tell.”