AI startup Story Engine Inc., co-founded by Stanford graduate Sheikh Srijon, has raised $750,000 in pre-seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) to develop a next-generation platform for AI-driven anime and webtoon creation. The funding will support AI model training, platform development, and operational scaling, while $500K in Google Cloud credits will extend the startup’s runway.
Story Engine aims to democratize visual storytelling, addressing a major gap in AI-generated content consistency. Unlike existing tools like Midjourney, the platform creates controllable, multi-panel character narratives, opening opportunities for Gen Z creators who consume anime but lack access to professional tools.
Srijon emphasized that the founders’ track record in AI and entrepreneurship helped secure backing from A16Z, which previously invested in Facebook and Instagram. The team had previously built Glato.ai, an AI tool that turned product URLs into TikTok ads, gaining traction on Product Hunt. Their rapid execution and market validation played a key role in attracting investors.
The alpha version of Story Engine’s platform, Komiko.app, is now live for early users, with a growing Discord community providing feedback. As the company expands, it aims to build a strong creator ecosystem and develop new IP for AI-assisted storytelling.
Featured image: Credit: Sheikh Srijon
