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Overview
Eko creates interactive video experiences where viewers choose outcomes in original comedy, drama, and music series. Viewers navigate branching narratives, and the platform delivers interactive videos that adapt to user choices. Eko monetizes through advertising, brand partnerships, and potential subscriptions, distributing content with partners like BuzzFeed Tasty and FBE. The goal is to deepen engagement, learn from viewer choices with data analytics, and build sustainable revenue through data-informed content.
About Eko
Industries
Data & Analytics
Consumer Software
Entertainment
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Late Stage VC
Total Funding
$57.5M
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
2011
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Walmart said Eko now powers millions of product pages across its entire catalog.
- Eko's Bentonville factory targets 750,000 items yearly, creating near-term operating leverage.
- AI shopping by ChatGPT and Gemini rewards Eko's cleaner product data pipeline.
What critics are saying
- June 2026 layoffs show core systems failed before scaling; rebuilding delays revenue.
- Walmart remains dominant counterparty; contract loss would cripple Eko's Bentonville business by 2027.
- The company still depends on manual product capture; automation rivals can underprice it quickly.
What makes Eko unique
- Eko owns interactive-video patents, strengthened by Quibi Turnstyle IP settlement in 2021.
- Walmart extended Eko across millions of products on Walmart.com in February 2026.
- Bentonville capture factory fuses human photography with software for AI-ready product catalogs.
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Funding
Total Funding
$57.5M
Below
Industry Average
Funded Over
4 Rounds
Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life and Disability Insurance
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
12 Paid Holidays
PTO
HSA/FSA
Premium health, dental and vision insurance
Daily Lunch
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 6%1 year growth
↑ 11%2 year growth
↑ 2%New York-based tech company Eko is laying off employees at its Bentonville "capture factory", according to an internal memo sent to staff on Thursday. The company has begun a 60-day notice period, with employees remaining employed until 14 August. The workforce reduction is linked to a rebuild of core systems supporting the factory, including tools managing production, workflow, requirements communication and quality control. Eko said these systems "have not worked well enough" and must be rebuilt before scaling operations. The 70-square-foot facility opened in June 2025 as a hub for capturing media and data across consumer product categories. Eko recently partnered with Walmart to enhance the retailer's online shopping presence. The company said it hopes to rehire staff when the rebuild allows, though cannot promise timelines.
It’s been over three years since I first got to know Yoni Bloch, a musician and something of a celebrity in Israel, and got acquainted with his interactive video technology startup Interlude. Interlude’s technology basically enables video
In a warehouse in Bentonville, Arkansas, Eko is building what it calls a "capture factory" to create AI-ready product catalogues for major retailers including Walmart and Best Buy. Hundreds of employees photograph millions of products from every angle on studio-style stages, manually perfecting each shot. The Brooklyn-based company, backed by Walmart, Sequoia Capital and Intel Capital, aims to improve online listing accuracy and make product data easily digestible for artificial intelligence platforms. President Ben Kaufman said quality input is essential for AI output. The effort comes as retailers prepare for AI-driven shopping through platforms like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, both of which have partnered with major retailers. Morgan Stanley analysts note that precise product features and descriptions become crucial as AI chatbots use these details to suggest products to shoppers.
Eko said in a news release on Thursday that it will open a "Capture Factory" in Bentonville that will create 200 new jobs.
Alongside the announcement, Eko has appointed Ben Kaufman as President and Chief Commercial Officer.
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About Eko
Industries
Data & Analytics
Consumer Software
Entertainment
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
Late Stage VC
Total Funding
$57.5M
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
2011
There are no jobs for Eko right now.
Find jobs on Simplify and start your career today