Synthesia

Platform for creating AI-generated videos by typing text.

Synthesia is a digital media platform enabling organisations to create AI-generated videos directly from text. By removing the need for cameras, studios or on-screen talent, the platform allows teams to produce consistent, scalable video content for training, communications and engagement.

Synthesia was co-founded by a team of researchers and entrepreneurs, including Professor Lourdes Agapito from UCL’s Department of Computer Science.

The Synthesia journey so far:

2017: Synthesia is founded
2021: The company reaches unicorn status following a significant funding round
2023: Launch of enhanced AI avatars and enterprise-focused tools
2025: Continued expansion of platform capabilities and international customer base
2026: company valued at $4bn

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Marina Santilli

Interim Director of Physical Sciences & Engineering

Marina has specialised in the commercialisation of computer science and AI-based inventions and deep tech venture building since joining UCL Ventures in 2007. She headed straight into industry after graduating in Physics from Imperial College, enjoying a successful career in datacomms engineering and becoming Director of new product development at Verizon.

In 2010 she designed and developed E-lucid, a platform to enable online licensing of UCL’s intellectual property. E-lucid is now used by over 30 research institutions around the world and was spun out as a commercial business in 2023.

Marina was involved in the formation of many successful UCL spinouts including Satalia, Re:infer, 3DRepo, MatrixMill, Humanloop, Stanhope AI.