Lucknow / India, 28 January 2026: India’s deep-tech startup ecosystem has received a new international support. TakeTwo, an AI-native film studio founded by Uttar Pradesh-based entrepreneur Rudresh Upadhyay, has secured pre-seed funding. The investment comes at a valuation of ₹100 crore, which is considered one of the first and most significant deals in India’s AI-based media and entertainment sector.

America’s Afore Capital and Canada’s Inovia VC participated in this funding round. Afore Capital is recognized among the leading pre-seed venture capital firms globally. This investment reflects the growing confidence of international investors in tech startups emerging from states like UP.

Founded by Rudresh Upadhyay (CEO) and Raghav Katta (CTO), Take2 is not just a software company but a full-stack AI film studio. The studio works with film directors and production houses to create complex visual effects, stylized scenes, and large cinematic setups, creating high-quality visuals at a lower cost than traditional VFX.

Rudresh Upadhyay, CEO, said,
“We have been working on solving real problems to filmmaking since the beginning. This funding is confirmation that AI is now going to be the foundation of the future of cinema. Coming out of UP and reaching the global stage shows that talent is not limited to one city or region.”

The funding will be used to strengthen the technical infrastructure, develop custom AI systems, and expand the team of creative technologists. Tektu’s long-term goal is to become the technological force behind Indian cinema that may not be visible on screen, but leaves its mark in the quality of every film.

The concept of TechTu was developed during Y Combinator’s AI Startup School. The idea, born out of the rising costs of VFX and the practical challenges of production, has today evolved into a studio model that seamlessly integrates AI-generated content into live-action films.

The studio treats AI not just as an experiment, but as the core technical framework of filmmaking. Tektu’s business model is based on both B2B and B2C, allowing both large production houses and independent filmmakers to take advantage of its technology. Currently the company is using existing AI APIs, but plans to develop its own AI systems in the future based on India’s vast and diverse cinematic data.

Techtu’s aim in the future is not to be limited to just technological innovation, but to establish AI as a standard tool in Indian cinema. The company plans to partner with major production houses and independent filmmakers to implement its technology at an industry level, enabling high-quality visuals and new dimensions of storytelling in every film.