TikTok veterans raise $11m for AI that scores videos

Former TikTok technology and music specialists have raised $11 million for an AI company that can watch a video and automatically create music and sound effects to match what happens on screen.

San Francisco company Sonilo analyses footage before generating audio designed around its timing, movement and mood. Instead of creating a piece of music first and forcing the video to fit it, the system starts with the pictures.

How does Sonilo work?

Creators can upload footage and ask Sonilo to produce a soundtrack or individual sound effects. Its technology analyses different sections of the video and creates an audio plan before generating sounds designed to fit those moments.

The company was founded by former TikTok employees including chief executive Shawn Song, who previously worked on multimodal AI, alongside Alex Yin and Keli Li. Li previously worked within TikTok’s global music operation.

Sonilo has now raised $11 million in a funding round led by B Capital, with Redpoint also participating.

The company says the investment will help it continue developing technology aimed at filmmakers, production teams and online creators.