LOS ANGELES, United States — Consumer AI startup Clout Kitchen announced its $4.45 million seed funding round, which AI gaming company A16Z’s startup accelerator SPEEDRUN and venture capital firm Peak XV’s company seed platform Surge co-led.
Established in 2024, Clout Kitchen builds creator-powered interactive experiences in gaming and pop culture. It unlocks new ways for top creators to engage and expand their fan base.
Its first product is Backseat AI, an in-game “buddy” for League of Legends co-built. It features Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp, one of the world’s biggest content creators with over 20 million followers.
Selecting in-game items and options causes Backseat AI to reveal handy tips with Tyler1’s voice. Also, you may ask the tool questions via voice commands.
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Nowadays, Clout Kitchen is adding more content creators or “buddies,” such as pro player Jankos and cosplayer Emiru.
Customers may pay $4.99 for each buddy, who earns money from each subscription. Also, the product has gained over 45,000 waitlist signups since its early access testing in June.
“Our thesis at Clout Kitchen is to build things that grow the pie and add value for fans, creators, and game developers alike,” said CEO Justin Banusing.
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“As a creator myself, I know how difficult it is to keep your community and business growing,” said chief business officer Marcel Feldkamp.
Clout Kitchen will use the funds to expand Backseat’s team, establish its US office, and build its internal tech stack for further innovations.
“As a gamer and a creator myself, I’m excited to support Justin and Team Clout Kitchen in their journey to unlock new frontiers for our community,” said AppWorks Chairman & Partner Jamie Lin.