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May 20, 2026 • Marina Temkin

Clouted Raises $7M to Automate Viral Video Creation

Clouted Raises $7M to Automate Viral Video Creation Clouted Raises $7M to Automate Viral Video Creation Clouted Raises $7M to Automate Viral Video Creation

Clouted Wants to Take the Guesswork Out of Making Short Videos Go Viral

Overview

Clouted, a startup that emerged from a16z's Speedrun accelerator in 2024, has raised a $7 million seed round led by Slow Ventures to automate the process of creating and distributing viral short-form video content.

The Problem

Brands recognize short video clips from podcasts, songs, and movies as highly cost-effective marketing tools. However, managing the "clipping" process presents significant operational challenges:

  • Finding the most compelling 30-90 seconds of content
  • Managing networks of independent gig creators
  • Determining optimal distribution strategies across platforms
  • Understanding what makes content go viral

Clouted's Solution

The platform combines human creativity with AI-driven optimization:

Infrastructure Layer

  • Creator Network: Access to 100,000+ gig creators for video editing
  • AI Distribution Engine: Determines optimal social media platforms and target audiences
  • Continuous Testing Loop: Experiments with different formats and channel strategies

Key Innovation: Algorithm Penetration Testing

Clouted functions like penetration testing for social media algorithms—borrowed from cybersecurity concepts. Rather than seeking security flaws, the system:

  • Tests thousands of clipping and distribution approaches
  • Identifies what triggers content to go viral
  • Accumulates performance data to improve future campaigns
  • Makes each campaign faster, smarter, and more effective

Real-World Application

CEO Justin Banusing, a longtime DJ, first applied Clouted's technology to grow &Friends, a Manila-based electronic dance music festival that now attracts over 20,000 attendees.

Market Position

Direct Competition: Overlap AI (automated clipping)

Long-term Target: Enterprise marketing infrastructure players like CreatorIQ and Hightouch (which recently crossed $100M ARR)

Funding

  • Amount: $7 million seed round
  • Lead Investor: Slow Ventures
  • Participants: Gold House Ventures, Weekend Fund, Peak XV's Surge, and others

Key Differentiator

Unlike volume-driven marketing tools, Clouted prioritizes performance over quantity. The AI doesn't just chase high clip counts—it operates a scientific testing loop to determine what actually works, making the system more targeted and efficient over time.