Loading organizations...
§ Private Profile · 27 SIROS, LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA, 92677
Lumi Story is a technology company.
Lumi Story develops an AI-powered platform designed to enhance literacy by enabling K-12 students to create and publish their own stories. The platform utilizes transparent, classroom-safe AI to foster creativity, build confidence, and improve literacy outcomes, supporting students through character design, thematic exploration, writing, revision, and publication. It also offers tools for teachers to customize instruction, scaffold learning, and track student progress, seamlessly integrating with existing classroom workflows.
The company was founded by Colin Kaepernick, with the insight that combining creative storytelling with advanced AI tools could empower a new generation of learners. Launched in 2023, Lumi Story emerged from a team with a decade of collective experience in storytelling, publishing, and education, aiming to leverage artificial intelligence to make narrative creation accessible and engaging for all students.
Lumi Story primarily serves K-12 students and their educators, providing a dynamic environment where young people can grow as writers and creators. The company envisions increasing student writing output and reading fluency, driving engagement, and enabling teachers to maximize their impact with reduced preparation time. Ultimately, Lumi Story aims to build a community where student showcases foster pride and strengthen educational ties.
Lumi Story has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round.
Lumi Story has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Lumi Story has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Lumi Story's investors include Seven Seven Six, Advancit Capital, Convoz, Cultivation Capital, Founders Fund, Greylock, Heretic Ventures, Balaji Srinivasan, Steve Olechowski.
Lumi Story AI is an AI-powered platform that empowers independent creators, particularly in comics, manga, and graphic novels, to develop, publish, and merchandise their stories in digital and physical formats without relying on traditional gatekeepers.[1][2][3] Founded by Colin Kaepernick, it serves content creators facing barriers in publishing and distribution, solving logistical challenges through integrated AI tools for production, ethical storytelling, and monetization, with $4M raised in seed funding led by Seven Seven Six.[1][3] The platform targets a market requiring diverse creative skills, enabling creators to focus on storytelling while handling manufacturing and sales.[1][3]
Lumi Story AI was founded in 2024 by Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback and civil rights activist, based in Las Vegas, Nevada.[1][2][3] Kaepernick, drawing from his advocacy for accessibility, launched the platform to address gatekeeper dependencies in publishing that hinder diverse narratives, viewing it as an extension of his work to amplify untold stories.[1][2][3] The idea emerged from recognizing skill gaps and logistical burdens for creators, especially in comics and graphic novels; early traction includes a $4M seed round 7 months ago from investors like Seven Seven Six, Kapor Capital, Impellent Ventures, and angels such as Mariam Naficy and David Sze.[1][3] Kaepernick emphasizes empowering creators to "get back to what they want to do: create," with initial focus on independent storytellers.[1][3]
Lumi Story AI rides the wave of AI democratization in creative industries, where generative tools lower entry barriers for underrepresented voices in publishing, a sector long dominated by gatekept giants.[1][2][3] Timing aligns with explosive AI adoption post-2023 models, enabling scalable storytelling amid demand for diverse comics/manga content, fueled by global streaming and digital merch markets.[1] Market forces like creator economy growth (valued in billions) and ethical AI pushes favor Lumi, as it counters opaque tools by centering human creators and inclusivity.[1][3] It influences the ecosystem by fostering indie "Disneys," inspiring AI's creative beneficiaries and bridging activism with tech to amplify global narratives.[2][3]
Lumi Story AI is poised for expansion beyond comics into broader storytelling, leveraging its seed funding for creator conversations and ethical AI refinements.[1][3] Trends like multimodal AI, Web3 merch, and edtech crossovers (noting separate literacy tools) will shape it, potentially integrating student-focused features amid literacy crises.[1][6] Influence may evolve by partnering with platforms like Meta or Anthropic backers, scaling diverse content to challenge industry incumbents—ultimately fulfilling Kaepernick's vision of turning any creator into a storytelling powerhouse.[2][3] This positions Lumi as a pivotal force in AI's creative renaissance, freeing narratives long sidelined by barriers.
Lumi Story has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in July 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2024 | $4M Seed | Seven Seven SIX | Advancit Capital, Convoz, Cultivation Capital, Founders Fund, Greylock, Heretic Ventures, Balaji Srinivasan, Steve Olechowski | Announced |