Pre-seed funding details
Popcorn AI Studio announced the completion of its $1 million pre-seed round on 18 October 2026. The funding was led by Emirati serial entrepreneur and investor Mohammed Bin Bouta Alharsoosi.
The Dubai-based company will use the capital to support continued AI technology development, international expansion, the evolution of its creative platform, and scaling its user base across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Integrated video production platform
Founded by Egyptian entrepreneurs Shady Essam and Mohamed Hedar, Popcorn AI Studio operates an artificial intelligence platform for film and video production. It combines production workflows into a single integrated system designed for creators, filmmakers, agencies, and brands.
Users can generate concepts, build characters, create cinematic scenes, produce commercial videos, and make multilingual content. The platform specifically focuses on Arabic-language production, featuring native Arabic lip-sync capabilities and support for regional dialects.
Industry context and creator initiatives
The company aims to lower traditional film production costs and technical barriers by replacing disconnected tools and complex prompts with dedicated AI studios.
Alongside the investment, Popcorn AI Studio announced an AI filmmaking competition linked to the El Gouna Film Festival with a $70,000 prize pool to support regional filmmakers.