Wonder Studios signs a first-of-its-kind deal with Foundation Distribution to bring online indie filmmakers' work to TV screens worldwide. 6:25 am, PT, October 20, 2026 Premium films from a new generation of online filmmakers will sit alongside mainstream films and series on TV streaming services, starting with Wonder's anthology series Beyond the Loop NEW YORK & LONDON-(BUSINESS WIRE)-October 20, 2026- Wonder Studios, the entertainment company building new pathways for filmmakers in the AI era, today announced an agreement with Foundation Distribution, a distribution agent that negotiates placement across connected-TV platforms, to bring work from exceptional indie filmmakers who have built their audiences online to TV screens. It is a first-of-its-kind deal that will see AI-native content from emerging filmmakers streamed globally across major TV streaming services via platforms such as Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon and others, with work from filmmakers beyond AI to follow. First up is the second season of Beyond the Loop, Wonder's flagship anthology, which backs filmmakers to make original short films, with a stake in what they create and a route to features and series. Already released on YouTube and Wonder TV, the season is now heading to TV streaming services. Its filmmakers include Grammy-nominated artist Jidenna, making his directorial debut; Kavan the Kid, whose AI short films have drawn more than 100 million views; and BAFTA-winning editor Hal Watmough, who has since joined Wonder as Head of Post. Beyond the Loop has drawn 14.8M combined views across all platforms to date, with coverage in outlets including Deadline, Sky News and Forbes, and Season 2 was executive produced by CapCut, ElevenLabs, OpenArt and invideo. The deal is designed to give individual films and projects a premium space on television. Rather than being added to an always-on themed channel - the high-volume model common on free streaming services - each Beyond the Loop film and future indie films selected by Wonder will appear as a title in its own right. For audiences, that means discovering emerging filmmakers the same way they browse for any traditional film or series. For filmmakers, it means reaching viewers well beyond social and digital platforms, with their work given the same space on television as a traditional film. Sarah Craig, President at Foundation Distribution said: "We've seen firsthand over the years that bringing online creator content to connected TV doesn't dilute existing audiences - it amplifies them by meeting viewers wherever they watch. When used thoughtfully to complement traditional storytelling, AI tools open up immense creative possibilities - allowing indie filmmakers to produce elevated, cost-effective work that belongs across every major streaming platform alongside traditional film." Xavier Collins, CEO and co-founder Wonder Studios said: "This deal with Foundation marks a watershed moment for Wonder, what started as a mission to help filmmakers becoming founders has now materialised into a position where emerging talent is having their content broadcast into millions of homes worldwide. We're excited to catalyse this opportunity with our flagship anthology beyond the loop in addition to surfacing other great films and filmmakers from our community." After Beyond the Loop S2, Wonder will bring further work under the deal from filmmakers within its community and beyond who have built substantial followings online. The focus will be on longer-form films and series, providing a platform for filmmakers to get their content seen by audiences worldwide on major streaming platforms. Alongside distributing existing work, Wonder plans to commission new originals. AI remains an important creative tool for many of the filmmakers Wonder works with, but the studio's slate increasingly spans live-action and hybrid production. Justin Hackney, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Wonder Studios concluded: "Substance over algorithm has been our north star from day one. Online, a great film can vanish in a single scroll. In the living room, it gets to be what it always was: a film, chosen and watched from beginning to end. That's the respect true storytellers earn, and it's what this deal gives them." About Wonder Studios Wonder Studios is an entertainment company building new pathways for filmmakers in the AI era. Founded by filmmaker and creative technologist Justin Hackney and marketplace entrepreneur Xavier Collins, Wonder works across original IP, commercial productions and filmmaker development. Wonder brings together a studio, talent marketplace and global community of filmmakers and creative technologists, pairing creatives and engineers from the start of each project to support ambitious storytelling and new production models. Its ownership framework is designed to give filmmakers a clearer pathway from short film to feature or series, with shared ownership in the stories they create. The company has raised more than $15 million from investors including Atomico, LocalGlobe, Blackbird and Adobe Ventures.

Top startup and tech funding news - October 23, 2025. Generation Lab raises $11M in seed funding to advance longevity diagnostics. Generation Lab, a San Francisco-based longevity biotech startup, has raised $11 million in seed funding to accelerate the adoption of its breakthrough aging diagnostics platform. The round was led by Accel, marking the VC firm's first major bet in the longevity sector, with participation from notable investors including Samsung Next, Aoki Labs (DJ Steve Aoki's fund), Build Your Legacy Ventures (NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo's fund), and Markham Valley Ventures (actor Simu Liu's fund). Less than a year old, Generation Lab has developed SystemAge(TM), a blood-test-based platform that measures the biological age and health of 19 organ systems with striking accuracy (99.9%). In under 10 months since launch, the startup has signed up over 275 clinics worldwide and gathered more than 300 million data points, signaling strong traction for its healthspan assessment tool. Generation Lab will use the seed capital - which places it among the top 1% of seed raises - to further validate its diagnostics, expand to more clinics, and move toward making proactive longevity care part of routine healthcare. Accel Partner Kerry Wang said Generation Lab is "shaping the future of the longevity industry" by combining solid science with rapid commercial progress in an emerging field. * Startup: Generation Lab (longevity diagnostics platform) * Investors: Accel (lead), Samsung Next, Aoki Labs (Steve Aoki), Build Your Legacy (Giannis Antetokounmpo), Markham Valley (Simu Liu), Zone 2 Ventures * Amount Raised: $11 million * Total Raised: $15 million (including prior funding) * Funding Stage: Seed Round * Funding Date: October 23, 2025 Wonder Studios raises $12M in seed funding to fuse film & tech for next-gen storytelling. Wonder Studios, a London-based startup at the intersection of film and technology, has raised $12 million in seed funding to develop its next-generation storytelling platform. The round was led by European VC heavyweight Atomico, with participation from LocalGlobe, Blackbird Ventures, Adobe Ventures, and industry insiders like former BBC executive Erik Huggers and YouTube collective Sidemen's Upside Ventures. Wonder Studios aims to bridge the worlds of cinema and cutting-edge tech - though still in stealth, the company is reportedly building tools that use AI and other technologies to streamline film production and create new immersive content experiences. The infusion of capital will enable Wonder Studios to expand its engineering and creative teams and refine its product, which promises to empower filmmakers with innovative tech-driven workflows. Atomico's backing, along with support from major media and tech investors, signals strong confidence in Wonder Studios' vision to reinvent how stories are created and experienced on screen. * Startup: Wonder Studios (film-tech startup for storytelling) * Investors: Atomico (lead), LocalGlobe, Blackbird, Adobe Ventures; notable angels: Erik Huggers, Sidemen's Upside Ventures * Amount Raised: $12 million * Total Raised: $12 million (initial seed financing) * Funding Stage: Seed Round * Funding Date: October 23, 2025 Meva Energy secures €40M in funding from EIB to decarbonize industry with biogas tech. Meva Energy, a Gothenburg, Sweden-based cleantech startup, has secured €40 million (approximately $42 million) in venture debt financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to scale its on-site biogas technology. Meva Energy builds modular, climate-neutral plants that convert local biomass waste (such as wood residues) into renewable, industrial-grade biogas - providing a fossil-free fuel source for manufacturers aiming to cut emissions. The EIB funding will help Meva deploy its biomass gasification units across Europe, allowing factories to generate their own clean energy and reduce reliance on fossil natural gas. Led by CEO Niclas Davidsson, Meva Energy's mission is to drive a "zero-waste, zero-emissions" manufacturing industry, and this funding boost from Europe's climate-focused bank reinforces its vision and credibility. With the global industry under pressure to decarbonize, Meva's solution offers a viable path by turning renewable feedstock into on-site power. The fresh capital will go toward scaling operations, building additional biogas units, and accelerating the commercialization of its technology in new markets. * Startup: Meva Energy (biogas technology for industrial decarbonization) * Investors: European Investment Bank (venture debt lender) * Amount Raised: €40 million (approx. $42 million) * Total Raised: Not disclosed (includes prior equity funding; this is the first major debt round) * Funding Stage: Venture Debt Financing * Funding Date: October 23, 2025 Tech funding summary table. | Startup | Investors (Lead and notable investors) | Amount Raised | Total Raised | Funding Stage | Funding Date | | Redwood Materials | Eclipse Ventures (lead), NVentures (Nvidia), others | $350 million | ~$2 billion | Series E | Oct 23, 2025 | | Chainguard | General Catalyst - CVF (lead) | $280 million | $892 million | Growth Financing (post-Series D) | Oct 23, 2025 | | Fal.ai | Kleiner Perkins, Sequoia Capital, others | $250 million | ~$450 million | Series D (est.) | Oct 23, 2025 | | Avride | Uber (lead strategic), Nebius | $375 million | Not disclosed | Strategic Investment | Oct 22, 2025 | | May Mobility | Grab (strategic investor) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Strategic Investment | Oct 23, 2025 | | ShopMy | Avenir (lead), Bain Cap. Ventures, Bessemer, Menlo | $70 million | Not disclosed | Series B | Oct 22, 2025 | | Generation Lab | Accel (lead), Samsung Next, Aoki Labs, BYL, Markham Valley | $11 million | $15 million | Seed | Oct 23, 2025 | | Wonder Studios | Atomico (lead), LocalGlobe, Blackbird, Adobe Ventures | $12 million | $12 million | Seed | Oct 23, 2025 | | Meva Energy | European Investment Bank (debt) | €40 million (~$42M) | Not disclosed | Venture Debt | Oct 23, 2025 | | Darwin AI | Insight Partners (lead), UpWest, Resolute Ventures | $15 million | ~$20 million | Series A | Oct 23, 2025 |

Wonder will use the fresh funds to double its engineering team and accelerate its push into IP ownership and original content production.