Segmentive – Computer Vision Startup Close €2m Seed Round to Breakthrough Whole-body Mobile Segmentation

BERLIN/ Mittweida, 5 August 2020 – Deep-tech computer vision startup, Segmentive, closes final funds in €2m seed round in a bid to deliver whole-body video segmentation, in real-time and on mobile.

Segmentive is developing a new approach to mobile video segmentation. Its breakthrough technology aims to overcome the limitations of conventional visual processing and mobile power by combining the most advanced online learning techniques with the industry’s fastest deep neural network algorithms.

To date, removing the background from a video of a moving person on a mobile device in real-time has been impossible. The technology is designed to be used by social media platforms looking for unique features to transport users to different worlds by changing their backgrounds. Segmentive has application with mobile phone manufacturers and tech giants looking to push the boundaries of computer vision to create new commercial applications.

Lutz Roellig, Segmentive CEO said “funding will accelerate the delivery of our multi-layer segmentation technology mobile prototype and allow us to make key hires to support execution.”

He went on to say, “VR and AR use cases have been held back by an inability to display crisp edges on mobile devices as humans move around in virtual environments –  Segmentive’s technology breaks through this barrier to deliver fine details in real-time video on modern mobile devices.”

Segmentive unlocks new computer vision capabilities, never seen before by pre-classifying each frame into background and foreground using a pre-trained, convolutional neural network. Using online learned classifiers, Segmentive can achieve super-sharp edges in real-time dynamic videos.

The €2m seed round was led by Leipzig based Technologiegruenderfonds Sachsen (TGFS). TGFS is an early-stage VC fund targeting high tech startups with strong growth potential and has invested in over 120 companies in its 20-year history.

TGFS’s Investment Director, Friedemann Stier commented “Segmentive has proven the technology works and TGFS is pleased to be able to fund the growing team of computer vision experts to deliver the first working prototype.” He added, “leadership, combined with the teams’ skill and ingenuity makes Segmentive stand out as a winning combination.”