Celebrating the Moment with Sahil Dhingra: Winner of the People's Choice Vote at January Demo Night London

 In a recent interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Sahil Dhingra, co-founder and CEO of DeepReel, who was voted the People's Choice at January's Demo Night event in London.

This monthly gathering, organized by Canopy Community and City Ventures at City St Georges University of London, showcases innovative startups and fosters a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurs. 

From Finance to AI: A Bold Career Pivot

Sahil's journey is a testament to the power of pursuing one's passion. In 2018, he made the courageous decision to leave his 12-year career in investment banking to pursue his interest in AI. This led him to City University of London, where he completed a master's degree in data science and machine learning. It was during this time that Sahil discovered his affinity for computer vision, which would later become the foundation for DeepReel. 

The Birth of DeepReel

The idea for DeepReel emerged from a unique combination of circumstances. As deepfakes were gaining attention, Sahil pondered how this technology could be used for good. Simultaneously, he noticed the poor quality of dubbing in foreign language shows on streaming platforms. This sparked the concept of using AI-generated avatars for high-quality video dubbing. DeepReel's technology allows users to create lifelike AI avatars by cloning a person's face and voice (with permission, of course). These avatars can then be used to produce videos in over 30 languages from any text source, be it a blog post, prompt, or PDF document. The result? Ready-to-share videos created in minutes. 

Impressive Growth and Impact

Since its launch in July 2023, DeepReel has seen remarkable success. Over 200,000 people have signed up and created videos using the platform. The company has also secured integrations with major players like Canva and Adobe, becoming the world's first GNI plugin for Adobe Premiere Pro. 

The Power of Demo Night

Demo Night, as explained by Stewart Noakes, co-founder of Canopy Community, is not your typical pitch event. It's a platform for startups to showcase their products and receive valuable feedback from the community. The focus is on fostering dialogue and learning rather than competition. Sahil's approach to the demo was particularly noteworthy. He chose to give a live, unscripted demonstration of the product, showcasing not only the technology but also his ability to handle unexpected situations with grace. This approach aligns perfectly with the ethos of Demo Night, which emphasizes learning, iteration, and user-centric development. 

Real-World Applications

Stewart Noakes shared his experience using DeepReel to create MVP courses for Canopy Community. He highlighted how the tool significantly reduced the time and effort required to produce educational content, allowing him to create a course in just a few hours instead of weeks. 

Looking Ahead

As for the future, Sahil and his team are focused on improving their product and preparing for their next funding round. They've already secured a pre-seed round and are planning to raise a seed round in the coming months. 

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

When asked about advice for budding entrepreneurs, Sahil emphasized the importance of idea validation: "The biggest thing I've learned is that one should try to validate their ideas in the most non-technical way possible before going out and building things. Figure out strategies to talk to potential users and get feedback on a product without even building the product." Stewart  echoed this sentiment, encouraging aspiring entrepreneurs to connect with other founders who are slightly ahead in their journey. He emphasized the value of "close mentoring" - learning from those who have recently faced similar challenges. 

Join the Community

For those intrigued by DeepReel's potential, Sahil invites everyone to try making a free video on deepreel.com. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, catering to non-technical users who may be intimidated by or short on time for video creation. 

Demo Night events are open to all, regardless of whether you're a student or not. They take place on the second Wednesday of every month, with the next one scheduled for February 12th. It's an excellent opportunity to witness groundbreaking innovations, network with fellow entrepreneurs, and provide valuable feedback to emerging startups. 

For those looking to dive deeper into the startup ecosystem, Canopy Community (canopy.community) and City Ventures (citiventures.co.uk) offer resources, workshops, and networking opportunities. Both organizations emphasize inclusivity and support for entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey. 

As we witness the rapid evolution of AI technology, startups like DeepReel are at the forefront, pushing boundaries and creating tools that have the potential to transform how we communicate and create content. With passionate founders like Sahil Dhingra leading the charge and supportive communities like Canopy and City Ventures nurturing talent, the future of innovation in London looks bright indeed.

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Watch the full interview with Sahil, Sam and Stewart - https://www.youtube.com/live/ItY65MGT5tw?si=j6AYpx6W9pHZO4CW 

Connect with Sahil https://www.linkedin.com/in/sahil-dhingra-/

Connect with Sam https://www.linkedin.com/in/samlsteele/

Connect with Stewart https://www.linkedin.com/in/stewartnoakes/ 

More about City Ventures - https://www.cityventures.co.uk/

Join the Canopy Community - Virtual Incubation for Emerging Founders