Tech startup Dreamwell AI raised $2.3 million in pre-seed funding led by Tim Draper’s VC firm, Draper Associates. 

The company, co-founded by former YouTuber Kazzy Khazaal and Anthony Bobsin, develops AI tools to streamline influencer campaign processes.

Khazaal told Business Insider (BI) that Dreamwell’s platform automates up to 90% of the work in setting up influencer campaigns. 

The system helps brands identify suitable influencers, assess their value, and initiate contact. Based on a brand’s target audience and budget criteria, it can select up to 1,000 potential influencers across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The AI handles tasks such as finding influencers, evaluating audience metrics and potential engagement rates, and sending initial outreach emails. 

However, Khazaal noted that negotiating with creators and ensuring brand safety requires human involvement.

Dreamwell’s AI model, built on proprietary data, goes beyond using existing tools like OpenAI’s GPT. This distinction proved crucial in attracting investor interest, as Khazaal reported facing initial skepticism from VCs wary of startups merely repackaging existing AI solutions.

Prashant Matta, General Partner at Panache Ventures and an investor in the round, cited Dreamwell’s detailed data and AI-generated insights as key factors in backing the company. 

Additional participants in the funding round include the BDC Capital Seed Venture Fund.

Khazaal, leveraging his background as a creator with approximately 500,000 YouTube subscribers, stressed the importance of demonstrating actual revenue to investors. He advised startup founders to focus on achieving at least six figures in annual recurring revenue to strengthen their pitch.