DigitalCarbon

Transform Images And Videos Into Immersive 3D With AI

ActiveAIB2bComputer VisionE CommerceReal Estate & ConstructionY Combinator

Updated: Feb 17, 2026 ·

About

Digitalcarbon transforms ordinary images and videos into interactive, photorealistic 3D environments. Our technology can take photos from any device and render 3D scenes at more than 100 frames per second on everyday devices.

The founders were the first and second hires at a previous YC company AssemblyAI, and have more than 8 years of experience building AI models.

Creating immersive 3D experiences typically requires complex equipment and suffers from slow rendering speeds. This has limited the adoption of 3D technology across various industries. Digitalcarbon fixes that, eliminating the need for specialized equipment and dramatically accelerating the rendering process.

Our technology enables applications across various industries:

* Real estate: Creating virtual property tours that feel remarkably lifelike

* E-commerce: Providing interactive 3D product visualizations to boost consumer experience

* Tourism: Helping tourist businesses attract more travelers with immersive virtual previews

* Drone mapping and inspection: Enhancing aerial surveys and structural assessments with detailed 3D models

Think Unreal Engine meets Matterport with no hardware, but faster, editable, and more accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Recent News & Mentions

Sep 1, 2024FundingDigitalCarbon - Seed

Financial History

DigitalCarbon has raised $500K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $500K Seed in September 2024.

Total Raised

$500K

Valuation

N/A

Funding Rounds Raised

Date	Round	Lead Investors	Other Investors
Sep 1, 2024	$500K Seed		E1 Ventures, HOF Capital, Kindred Ventures, The Hit Forge, Y Combinator, Amjad Masad, Arash Ferdowsi, Balaji Srinivasan, Scott Belsky, Tobias Lutke

Financial History

DigitalCarbon has raised $500K across 1 funding round.

Total Raised

$500K

Valuation

N/A

Leadership Team

Key people at DigitalCarbon.

Leadership Team

Key people at DigitalCarbon.

Deep Dive

High-Level Overview

DigitalCarbon is an AI-driven platform that transforms ordinary 2D photos and videos into photorealistic, interactive 3D environments, rendered at over 100 frames per second on standard consumer devices. It enables users to create immersive virtual tours and 3D product visualizations without requiring specialized hardware or advanced 3D modeling skills. The platform serves industries such as real estate, e-commerce, tourism, and drone mapping by simplifying and accelerating 3D content creation, thereby enhancing customer engagement and operational efficiency[1][2][3].

Origin Story

Founded in 2024 by Guru Rao and Michael Nguyen in San Francisco, DigitalCarbon emerged to address the complexity and high cost of traditional 3D environment creation. The founders recognized that billions of images and videos are captured daily, yet converting these into immersive 3D experiences was hindered by expensive equipment, slow rendering, and the need for expert skills. Their solution leverages AI and radiance field technology to democratize 3D content creation, with early traction seen through beta testing in real estate and e-commerce sectors[3][4].

Core Differentiators

AI-Powered Photorealism: Uses advanced AI and radiance field technology to generate highly realistic 3D scenes from simple 2D inputs.
No Specialized Hardware Needed: Users can create 3D content from smartphone photos and videos, removing barriers related to expensive equipment.
High-Performance Rendering: Delivers smooth, real-time 3D experiences at 100+ FPS on everyday devices.
User-Friendly Editing: Allows easy customization and editing of 3D environments without requiring 3D modeling expertise.
Cross-Platform Deployment: Enables instant deployment of 3D content across various platforms, supporting diverse use cases.
Industry Versatility: Applicable to real estate virtual tours, e-commerce product visualization, tourism previews, and drone mapping[1][2][3].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

DigitalCarbon rides the growing trend of immersive digital experiences and AI-driven content creation. The timing is critical as demand surges for virtual tours, interactive product displays, and detailed 3D mapping, especially accelerated by remote work, e-commerce growth, and digital transformation in real estate and tourism. Market forces such as widespread smartphone adoption and advances in AI and graphics rendering favor DigitalCarbon’s approach. By lowering the technical and financial barriers to 3D content creation, DigitalCarbon is poised to influence how industries adopt immersive technologies and expand the 3D ecosystem[1][2][3].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, DigitalCarbon is likely to expand its platform capabilities, deepen integrations with industry verticals like PropTech and e-commerce, and scale its user base through strategic partnerships and beta programs. Trends such as the metaverse, augmented reality, and AI-driven automation will shape its evolution, potentially positioning DigitalCarbon as a foundational tool for immersive digital content creation. Its influence may grow as it democratizes 3D technology, making immersive experiences a standard across multiple sectors, thus fulfilling its mission to transform how visual content is created and consumed[2][3][5].

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Who founded DigitalCarbon?

DigitalCarbon was founded in 2024 by Michael Nguyen (Founder) and Guru Rao (Founder & CEO).

How much funding has DigitalCarbon raised?

DigitalCarbon has raised $500K in total across 1 funding round.

Who are DigitalCarbon's investors?

DigitalCarbon's investors include E1 Ventures, HOF Capital, Kindred Ventures, The Hit Forge, Y Combinator, Amjad Masad, Arash Ferdowsi, Balaji Srinivasan, Scott Belsky, Tobias Lutke.