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Runway AI, Inc. (also known as Runway and RunwayML) is an American company headquartered in New York City that specializes in generative artificial intelligence research and technologies.[1] The company is primarily focused on creating products for generating videos, images, and various multimedia content through developing commercial text-to-video and video generative AI models.[2][3]

Runway’s tools and AI models have been utilized in films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once,[4] and in editing television shows like The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.[5]

Background and present

The company was founded in 2018 by the Chileans Cristóbal Valenzuela,[6] Alejandro Matamala and the Greek Anastasis Germanidis after they met at New York University Tisch School of the Arts ITP.[7] Runway is focused on generative AI for video, media, and art. The company develops proprietary foundational model technology used in filmmaking, post-production, advertising, editing, and visual effects. Additionally, Runway offers an iOS app aimed at consumers.[8]

The company raised US$2 million in seed funding in 2018 to develop a platform for deploying machine learning models within multimedia applications.[9]

In December 2020, Runway raised US$8.5 million[10] in a Series A funding round.

In December 2021, the company raised US$35 million in a Series B funding round.[11]

On December 21, 2022, Runway raised US$50 million[12] in a Series C round. This was followed by a $141 million Series C extension round in June 2023 at a $1.5 billion valuation[13][14] from Google, Nvidia, and Salesforce[15] to build foundational multimodal AI models for content generation.[16][17]

On 3 April 2025, Runway raised $308 million in a funding round led by General Atlantic, valuing it at over $3 billion.[18][19]

Stable Diffusion

In August 2022, the company co-released an improved version of their latent diffusion model called Stable Diffusion, an open-source deep learning text-to-image model developed with the CompVis Group at LMU Munich and supported by compute from Stability AI.[20][21][22]

Partnerships

Entertainment industry

IMAX

In August 2025, Runway partnered with IMAX to screen AI Film Festival winners in 10 major cities across the United States. IMAX Chief Content Officer, Jonathan Fischer, said of the partnership, “The IMAX Experience has typically been reserved for the world’s most accomplished and visionary filmmakers. We’re excited to open our aperture and use our platform to experiment with a new kind of creator, as storytelling and technology converge in an entirely new way.”[23]

AMC Networks

In June 2025, AMC Networks became the first cable company to formally partner with Runway for AI-powered content creation.[24][25] The partnership focuses on using Runway’s technology to generate marketing images and help pre-visualize shows before production begins.[26] According to AMC Networks executive Stephanie Mitchko, the partnership aims to “enhance both how we market and how we create” while providing creative partners with tools to “fully realize the stories they want to tell.”[24]

Lionsgate

In September 2024, Runway announced a partnership with Lionsgate Entertainment to create a custom AI video generation model trained on the studio’s proprietary catalog of over 20,000 film and television titles.[27] The custom model is designed exclusively for Lionsgate’s use and cannot be accessed by other Runway users.[28]

The partnership allows Lionsgate filmmakers, directors, and creative talent to use AI-generated cinematic video for pre-production and post-production processes.[29]

Tribeca Film Festival

Runway has partnered with the Tribeca Film Festival since 2024 to showcase AI-generated films and explore the integration of artificial intelligence in filmmaking.[30] The collaboration includes a programming partnership called “Human Powered,” which features short films and music videos created using AI tools, followed by Q&A sessions with filmmakers.[31]

The Tribeca Film Festival is also a recurring partner at Runway’s AI Film Festival. The partnership has grown significantly, with Runway’s AI Film Festival receiving around 3,000 submissions in 2024, a ten-fold increase from the previous year.[32] Tribeca CEO Jane Rosenthal has emphasized the importance of working directly with AI companies to foster dialogue about the technology’s role in filmmaking rather than avoiding or fighting it.[30]

Education

Runway is incorporated into design and filmmaking curricula at major universities, such as the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.[33]

AI film initiatives

AI Film Festival

Runway has hosted an annual AI Film Festival (AIFF) since 2023 to showcase films created using artificial intelligence tools. The festival has experienced dramatic growth, expanding from 300 submissions and screenings in small New York City theaters in its inaugural year to over 6,000 submissions by 2025.[34] The 2025 festival culminated in a sold-out screening at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, drawing filmmakers and audiences from around the world.[35]

The festival serves as a platform for emerging filmmakers to explore the creative possibilities of AI-assisted storytelling and is considered by many to have become a significant event in the intersection of technology and cinema.[36]

Gen:48

Runway organizes the Gen:48 short film competition, a filmmaking challenge that gives participants 48 hours and AI generation credits to create short films between 1–4 minutes in length. The competition format is designed to encourage experimentation with AI tools under time constraints, fostering innovation in AI-assisted filmmaking.[37] Participants receive Runway credits and temporary unlimited access to Runway’s tools during the 48-hour period, and winners receiving prizes including cash prizes, Runway credits, and the opportunity to screen their films at the AI Film Festival.[37]

Recognition

In June 2023 Runway was selected as one of the 100 Most Influential Companies in the world by Time magazine.[38]

References

  1. ^ Metz, Cade (April 4, 2023). “Instant Videos Could Represent the Next Leap in A.I. Technology”. The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  2. ^ “Generative AI’s Next Frontier Is Video”. Bloomberg.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  3. ^ Vincent, James (March 20, 2023). “Text-to-video AI inches closer as startup Runway announces new model”. The Verge. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  4. ^ Shapiro, Lila (June 4, 2025). “Everyone Is Already Using AI (And Hiding It)”. Vulture. Retrieved June 5, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  5. ^ Barmack, Erik (May 8, 2024). “‘Everything, Everywhere’ Used AI From This Startup. I Went to its Film Festival”. The Ankler.
  6. ^ “TIME100 AI 2023: Cristóbal Valenzuela”. Time. September 7, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Black, Julia. “‘Not Everyone Is Trying to Build God’: Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela Tries to Dampen the Doomerism”. The Information. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Vincent, James (April 24, 2023). “Create generative AI video-to-video right from your phone with Runway’s iOS app”. The Verge. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  9. ^ Constine, Josh (June 28, 2018). “Runway ML raises $2M to make machine learning easier for creators”. TechCrunch. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  10. ^ “RunwayML raises $8.5 million for its AI-powered media creation tools”. VentureBeat. December 16, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (December 8, 2021). “Runway raises $35M for AI-powered video editing tools”. VentureBeat. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  12. ^ Cai, Kenrick. “Runway Raises $50 Million At $500 Million Valuation As Generative AI Craze Continues”. Forbes. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  13. ^ “AI Video Startup Runway Raises $141 Million From Google, Nvidia”. Bloomberg.com. June 29, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (June 29, 2023). “Runway, a startup building generative AI for content creators, raises $141M”. TechCrunch. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  15. ^ “Google Invests in AI Startup Runway to Wrest Cloud Business From AWS”. The Information. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  16. ^ Black, Julia. “‘Not Everyone Is Trying to Build God’: Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela Tries to Dampen the Doomerism”. The Information. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  17. ^ “Featured interview: Runway AI CEO Chris Valenzuela – First Move with Julia Chatterley – Podcast on CNN Audio”. CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Vasani, Sheena (April 1, 2025). “Runway says its latest AI video model can actually generate consistent scenes and people”. The Verge. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  19. ^ Wiggers, Kyle (April 3, 2025). “Runway, best known for its video-generating AI models, raises $308M”. TechCrunch. Retrieved April 4, 2025.
  20. ^ Cai, Kenrick. “The AI Founder Taking Credit For Stable Diffusion’s Success Has A History Of Exaggeration”. Forbes. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  21. ^ “The original startup behind Stable Diffusion has launched a generative AI for video”. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  22. ^ “Stability AI Is Losing Executives, Engineers and Its Edge”. Bloomberg.com. August 8, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  23. ^ Katz, Leslie. “AI Films Make The Leap From Social Feeds To IMAX Theaters”. Forbes. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Zeitchik, Steven (June 4, 2025). “AMC Networks Inks Deal With AI Company Runway (Exclusive)”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  25. ^ “AMC Networks is teaming up with AI company Runway”. Engadget. June 4, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  26. ^ Manfredi, Lucas (June 4, 2025). “AMC Networks Is Teaming Up With Runway AI”. TheWrap. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  27. ^ Franzen, Carl (September 18, 2024). “Runway inks deal with Lionsgate in first team-up for AI provider and major movie studio”. VentureBeat.
  28. ^ Schomer, Audrey (September 20, 2024). “What Lionsgate’s Partnership Deal With Runway Means”. Variety. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  29. ^ Spangler, Todd (September 18, 2024). “Lionsgate Will Use AI to Let Filmmakers ‘Augment’ Their Work, Studio Expects to Save ‘Millions’ via Pact With Startup Runway”. Variety. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  30. ^ a b Swant, Marty (June 21, 2024). “Why the Tribeca Film Festival embraced AI movies with OpenAI and Runway”. Digiday. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  31. ^ “Human Powered: AI Shorts Program | 2024 Tribeca Festival”. Tribeca. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  32. ^ Kulp, ByPatrick. “AI moviemaking grows up at Runway’s film festival”. Tech Brew. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  33. ^ “NYU Tisch Graduate Program brings Runway tools to the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center”. tisch.nyu.edu. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  34. ^ Garfinkle, Allie. “Runway’s AI transformed films. The $3 billion startup’s founders have a bold, new script: building immersive worlds”. Fortune. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  35. ^ Kulp, ByPatrick. “Hundreds gather for experimental shorts at Runway’s AI film festival”. Tech Brew. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  36. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (June 6, 2025). “A New York Startup Just Threw a Splashy Event to Hail the Future of AI Movies”. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  37. ^ a b “Runway GEN:48 AI Film Competition”. Curious Refuge. February 5, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  38. ^ “TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2023: Runway”. Time. June 21, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.