London-based AI startup Deep Render secures €1.83M funding

Instead of relying on image compression software developed before decades, Deep Render, a London-based machine learning startup has designed a revolutionary image compression algorithm. Now, Deep Render has secured £1.6 million (nearly €1.83 million) funding in a round led by Pentech Ventures along with participation from Speedinvest.

Intends to develop its image compression tech

Deep Render intends to develop its revolutionary image compression technology further with the fresh investment. The funding will also be used to hire new talent as well.

Founded by Arsalan Zafar and Chri Besenbruch as a spin-off from Imperial College London’s leading robotics lab, this startup is working on an AI-based image and video compression technology that mimics how the human eye analyses images and videos. It reinvents the entire process from scratch and mimics the human eye’s neural processes.

The technology reduces the file size of images by 10x as compared to the best industry standards without compromising on the visual quality. Deep Render’s algorithm additionally pays special attention to the content of the image, which the human eye cares about the most, resulting in more visually pleasing images.

Solves data crisis

The startup believes that its technology has the power to transform how people consume data during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Also, it will revolutionise industries and organisations across sectors.

Deep Render claims that there is an increase in the global demand for data and the same doubles with time. The digital universe is said to reach incomprehensible 44 zettabytes of data in 2020. And, the media compression is buckling due to the massive data consumption and this is a concern when there is an increased number of people who are working from home.

While there is a demand in the use of content platforms such as Netflix, Zoom, and YouTube, these platforms had to downgrade the quality and resolution of their services during the COVID-19 lockdown. With the use of deep Render’s algorithm, this would not be necessary.

Benefits content platforms

Given that Deep Render’s algorithm improves visual quality, it benefits content platforms such as Netflix, Google, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Baidu, etc. It also benefits businesses and technologies involved in VR streaming, AR streaming, holograms, cloud-gaming, emerging video streaming, medical streaming, and others. The niche use-cases of the tech include the CCTV market, satellite imaging, national defence forces, and remote drone-flying.

Proprietary non-linear algorithm

Deep Render has developed a new domain called Biological Compression technology. The compression software relies on a proprietary, non-linear algorithm. This tech is more efficient as it trains the algorithm and its modules.

“As humans, our eyes have evolved to care about certain colours and properties of the natural world. It helped us survive as hunters and gathers. We are more sensitive to the colour green as it represents fertile areas with food and water; we notice the slightest of movements in still scenes, as this helps us flee from sneaking predators. Accounting for these evolutionary instincts improves visual quality but teaching a machine to do so has been incredibly complex until now. Our technological breakthrough represents the foundation for a new class of compression methods,” explained Arsalan Zafar

“We’re not trying to make the original software better, but replace it. Effectively, we are burning the existing compression technology to the ground; rewriting, redefining and reinventing the entire domain,” said Chri Besenbrush. “Unless we get ahead of this data crisis, the free and open internet as we know it is at risk. Entire industries will struggle and infrastructure will buckle. Image compression may seem far away to most people but it underpins everything we do from playing games and watching movies to satellite imagery and how entire healthcare systems diagnose disease and save lives.”

Main image picture credits: Deep Render

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