Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Kevin Reilly Named CEO of AI Startup Kartel After New Investor Backing

The veteran TV executive pivots to lead Kartel to sell enterprise AI to brands and studios.

Overview

  • Kartel announced Reilly’s appointment on its website, elevating the startup’s profile with Hollywood and marketers.
  • The move coincides with fresh funding led by Maven Growth Partners with participation from TopRidge Investments and Elevate Partners.
  • Kartel previously secured a $2 million seed round this summer from Fourward Ventures and Connetic Ventures.
  • The company bills itself as a creative engineering firm building AI systems for Fortune 500 brands, agencies, and studios, though its product focus remains unsettled after a high-profile sizzle reel using celebrity likenesses.
  • Reilly’s entry into AI comes as legal fights over generative content roil the industry, creating both opportunity and risk for vendors courting media companies.