Vermillio, a leading AI licensing and protection platform, announced today the closing of its $16 million Series A funding round, led by Sony Music Entertainment and DNS Capital. The new capital will support the startup's expansion as it continues to develop solutions that empower talent, record labels, studios, and intellectual property (IP) holders to protect and monetize their content in the evolving generative AI landscape.
“We are building a future where AI licensing is structured around consent, attribution, and fair compensation,” said Dan Neely, co-founder and CEO of Vermillio. “With Sony Music’s backing, we will accelerate the deployment of our platform, ensuring generative AI can be harnessed responsibly. At a time when the industry is determining how to regulate AI-driven content creation, we are committed to safeguarding the rights of artists and creators.”
Generative AI is projected to generate over $1 trillion in economic value by 2026, according to forecasts from Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs. Vermillio has positioned itself at the forefront of this transformation by offering TraceID™, a proprietary licensing and attribution technology that gives IP owners and talent greater control over their assets in AI-generated environments. TraceID™ enables rights holders to define and enforce licensing terms, ensuring compliance while unlocking new revenue streams.
“Our focus is on developing ethical AI applications that enhance creative expression, protect our talent, and open up new commercial opportunities," emphasized Sony Music Entertainment President of Global Digital Business, Dennis Kooker. "Vermillio shares our commitment to ensuring proper consent, clear attribution, and fair compensation for professional creators. This partnership is an important step in building secure AI solutions that benefit artists, innovators, and rightsholders alike.”
The startup partnered with WME (William Morris Endeavor) to shield its clients from unauthorized AI-generated likenesses while enabling them to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Additionally, Vermillio collaborated with Sony Pictures on the Spider-Verse AI experience, allowing fans to generate personalized digital avatars while ensuring all content remained tied to the filmmakers' original IP via TraceID™. The startup also worked with Sony Music and Legacy Recordings on a project featuring David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and The Orb, enabling fans to remix their music while maintaining transparent rights attribution.
With its AI-driven monitoring, licensing, and rights management solutions, Vermillio addresses key industry concerns around consent, credit, and compensation. The platform’s capabilities include:
- Real-time IP and NIL content monitoring
- Automated alerts and takedowns for unauthorized usage
- Lost revenue tracking and rights enforcement
- AI license auditing and compliance management
- AI-driven royalty and payment processing
Founded by industry veterans with over a century of combined AI expertise, Vermillio is led by Dan Neely, recently recognized as one of TIME’s 100 most influential figures in AI. The startup has played a pivotal role in shaping AI governance discussions, including contributions to the NO FAKES Act, a proposed legislative framework to combat unauthorized AI-generated content.
