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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.