Dhingra, CityVentures in Action: Fuelling DeepReel’s AI-Powered Success
European Business Magazine talks to Sahil Dhingra, Co-founder and CEO at DeepReel
Join as we sit down with Sahil Dhingra, Co-founder and CEO of DeepReel, the driving force behind one of the most exciting advances in AI-powered video creation. In this exclusive interview, Sahil shares how DeepReel is redefining video production, making high-quality content accessible without studios, actors, or even cameras. He unpacks the story of how DeepReel grew from a bold research idea into a fast-scaling startup, working with global brands and producing over half a million AI-generated videos. Sahil also reflects on the challenges and ethical responsibilities of synthetic media, and how DeepReel is helping brands tell stories that truly connect.
Sahil, you launched DeepReel in 2022, and it’s already become a standout player in the AI video creation space. What was the original spark behind the idea?
Sahil Dhingra: “DeepReel began as a research idea developed during my master’s degree in data science (MSc in Data Science) at City St George’s, University of London. I met my co-founder there, and we were both fascinated by video AI and spent a lot of time exploring how to generate human faces with artificial intelligence. Initially, we were interested in dubbing for foreign-language films, but we soon saw a much bigger opportunity – the time and cost involved in producing quality video content was a huge barrier for so many. We realised traditional video production could cost thousands. DeepReel lets you create content for as little as $3 per minute. DeepReel was born from the idea that anyone should be able to create studio-quality video without cameras, studios, or actors.
“DeepReel empowers anyone to turn simple ideas into captivating, studio-quality videos using cutting-edge AI avatars. In just minutes, small businesses, content creators, and educators can produce professional-grade videos featuring realistic cloned faces and voices, complete with scripts, captions, and music.”
You’ve described DeepReel as helping turn simple ideas into captivating videos. Who would you say are your core users today?
Sahil Dhingra: “Our users span from small businesses and content creators to educators and large global brands. We’ve had over 270,000 users create more than half a million AI-generated videos using DeepReel avatars. The tech is powerful, but it’s the accessibility that makes it transformative. You can go from script to publish-ready video in minutes, with cloned voices, faces, captions and music.”
That kind of scalability doesn’t happen by accident. How did CityVentures help support DeepReel in those early stages?
Sahil Dhingra: “CityVentures didn’t just support us, it opened doors we didn’t even know existed. We first got involved through the university’s startup competition, where we pitched our idea and gained invaluable insights and mentorship. As first-time founders, we had a lot to learn. The program guided us through everything from fundraising to marketing to legal basics.
“But beyond the curriculum, it was the community and connections that proved transformational. In fact, a fellow member of the CityVentures team introduced us to the Machine Intelligence Garage, an incubator that helped us access cloud computing resources and early customers. At the time, we were building something truly novel, and those opportunities were crucial.
“CityVentures continues to play a crucial role, connecting us with the Canopy Community – a network of innovators and investors. Through joint events and pitch nights with Canopy, we were able to grow our visibility and refine our story.”
You’ve landed some big partnerships too, like Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team. Tell us more about that.
Sahil Dhingra: “That was a landmark moment for us. We created the world’s first AI avatar of a professional athlete, Fernando Alonso, for fan engagement. Projects like that were unthinkable a few years ago. It’s a great example of how our technology is helping brands find new, immersive ways to connect with their audiences.”
With over $1 million in funding secured, what’s next for DeepReel?
Sahil Dhingra: “Our goal now is to continue scaling and building deeper integrations with platforms that marketers, educators, and creators are already using. We’re also expanding into multilingual capabilities, helping content truly go global. But above all, we’re focused on keeping the experience simple and powerful.”
What advice would you offer to first-time founders?
Sahil Dhingra: “Find and learn from founders who’ve done it before. Programs like CityVentures can teach you the theory, but nothing beats the insights from someone who’s been through the fire.
“We were just two students with an idea. CityVentures helped us turn it into impact.”
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