Google has acquired Alter, an artificial intelligence (AI) avatar startup that helps creators and brands express their virtual identities, for about $100 million, to advance its content game and better serve its content, a person familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. Compete with TikTok.
The acquisition was completed about two months ago, but neither company disclosed it to the public, the sources said. Some of Alter's top executives updated their LinkedIn profiles to share that they joined Google without acknowledging the acquisition. The sources requested anonymity because they were sharing non-public information.
A Google spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that the company has acquired Alter, but declined to comment on the financial terms of the deal.
US- and Czech-based Alter got its start with Facemoji, a platform that provides plug-and-play technology to help game and app developers put avatar systems into their apps. The startup has raised $3 million in seed funding from investors including Play Ventures, Roosh Ventures and Twitter.
Facemoji was later renamed Alter.
Google hopes to use Alter to improve and grow its content offerings, a person familiar with the matter said.
Alter founders Jon Slimak and Robin Raszka did not respond to a request for comment.