Dubai-based creative technology startup Popcorn AI Studio has secured a $1 million pre-seed funding package led by Emirati entrepreneur and investor Mohammed Bin Bouta Alharsoosi. The funding will support product development, expansion across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and international growth.
Founded in 2026 by Egyptian entrepreneurs Shady Essam and Mohamed Hedar, Popcorn AI Studio is developing an integrated AI-powered video production platform for filmmakers, content creators, advertising agencies and brands. The platform is designed to bring multiple stages of production into one workflow, from scriptwriting and character development to scene generation, voiceovers, lip-syncing and post-production.
The company aims to reduce the cost and technical complexity associated with traditional video production, enabling creators to develop cinematic content without relying on large production teams, expensive equipment or physical locations.
A key differentiator is its focus on Arabic-language content, including lip-sync capabilities and support for regional dialects. By combining generative AI tools with an understanding of regional language and storytelling, Popcorn aims to serve creators and businesses looking for content that reflects local audiences and cultural contexts.
“Technology has always changed how stories are told,” said Shady Essam, co-founder and CEO of Popcorn AI Studio. “Our ambition isn’t to replace filmmakers. It’s to remove the barriers between imagination and execution.”
The investment comes as generative AI tools increasingly enter creative production, creating opportunities for businesses to produce and adapt video content at lower cost and greater speed. Popcorn’s approach is to consolidate these capabilities within a single platform rather than require users to navigate multiple disconnected tools.
The company plans to use the funding to advance its AI technology, expand its product suite and grow its user base across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It will also pursue international partnerships to support its broader expansion plans.
Popcorn has also announced an AI filmmaking competition associated with the El Gouna Film Festival, featuring a $70,000 prize pool for emerging filmmakers. The initiative is intended to encourage experimentation with AI-powered storytelling and broaden access to filmmaking opportunities. The company identifies the El Gouna Film Festival and the Cairo International Film Festival as official partners.
Alharsoosi said the investment reflects his belief in the potential of AI-driven content creation in the MENA region, pointing to the founders’ vision and the platform’s early market reception.
With the new funding, Popcorn AI Studio is seeking to establish itself as a regional platform for AI-assisted video production while building the technology and partnerships needed to compete internationally. Its next challenge will be demonstrating that its integrated workflow and Arabic-language capabilities can attract sustained adoption among creators, agencies and brands.
