Exclusive: AI startup My SMASH Media has secured additional funding and hired Alison Gardner, a former director of the Glasgow Film Festival and a highly visible industry figure in British business. The Edinburgh-based company offers an AI-powered matching tool for film businesses called SMASHCupid, and Gardner's participation coincides with it receiving an R&D grant from Scottish Enterprise, the government agency that supports businesses in the country.
Gardner, who stepped down as chief executive of Glasgow Film and director of the city's film festival earlier this year, will join actor and producer Fiona Gillies, founder of My SMASH Media, producer Christine Hartland and digital expert Mahesh Ramachandra. Gardner has a development role in the business.
SMASH's matchmaking tools use a combination of human curation and AI analysis to match writers, directors, and producers with studios, streamers, and investors. Identify potential matches by identifying the logline, theme, and tone of your project and considering your industry overview. Creators can receive feedback on their pitches, and buyers can discover talent and IP.
The company says it has more than 8,000 users in 101 countries, and unnamed studios and industry partners are experimenting with its technology.
(LR) My SMASH Media Founders Christine Hartland, Fiona Gillies, Mahesh Ramachandra
my SMASH media
“SMASH is tackling one of the industry's biggest challenges by making project discovery and development more efficient and equitable,” said Gardner. “We're excited to support a platform that empowers creators and puts innovation at the center of storytelling.”
Gillies' onscreen credits include popular British shows coronation street and casualties“Alison's programming acumen and deep understanding of our audience will be invaluable as we scale. She represents exactly the type of forward-thinking industry collaborator we want to work with.”
Commenting on the R&D funding, Gillies said: “This investment is a critical step for SMASH as we expand our AI capabilities and data systems. Our mission is to make creative discovery more transparent, efficient and inclusive, and enable new voices to reach new audiences.”
