Google acquires Alter, US and Czech-based AI avatar startup, for $100M

Tech giant Google has acquired the US and Czech-based Alter, an artificial intelligence AI avatar startup, for about $100 million, according to TechCrunch sources.

• Founded in 2017 by Jonathan Slimak and Robin Raszka, Alter started as Facemoji, a platform that offered plug-and-play technology for helping game and app developers add avatar systems to their apps. In October 2021, the startup received $3 million in seed funding from investors including Play Ventures, Roosh Ventures, and Twitter.
• In 2022, Facemoji rebranded as Alter and continued to develop a platform that employs AI tools to help social media brands and users to express their virtual identity.
• As TechCrunch informs, Google acquired Alter about two months ago, but neither of the companies disclosed it to the public. Some of the top executives of Alter posted on their LinkedIn about the collaboration with Google, but without acknowledging the acquisition.
• Google spokesperson has confirmed to TechCrunch the acquisition of Alter, but didn’t disclose the financial and transaction details of the deal.
• The fresh acquisition will help Google in a push to improve its content game and better compete with TikTok.