Kaltura Acquires eSelf.ai to Strengthen Its AI Video Capabilities
Kaltura, a New York-based AI video platform company, is acquiring eSelf.ai, an Israeli startup known for creating conversational avatars — AI-driven digital humans capable of real-time interaction — in a deal valued at about $27 million. The company announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase eSelf, whose platform supports over 30 languages and includes an easy-to-use studio for building and customizing lifelike digital avatars.
Founded in 2023 by CEO Alan Bekker and CTO Eylon Shoshan, eSelf has developed deep technical expertise in speech-to-video generation, low-latency voice recognition, and screen understanding — allowing avatars to “see” and react to what appears on a user’s screen. Bekker previously sold his first startup, Voca, to Snap in 2020. Following the acquisition, both eSelf founders will join Kaltura to lead the integration process, with all current eSelf employees joining the company as well.
The two-year-old startup employs a small but highly skilled team of around 15 AI specialists. According to Kaltura co-founder and CEO Ron Yekutiel, Bekker’s earlier ventures were focused on natural language processing and computer vision — technologies that enable computers to understand human speech and visual information. He described Bekker as an expert in conversational AI and noted that this expertise was a key motivation behind the acquisition.
Kaltura provides a comprehensive suite of cloud-based video software solutions designed for various enterprise needs. These include a private video portal similar to YouTube, tools for hosting webinars and virtual events, and integrations that embed video learning into educational platforms and learning management systems.
The publicly listed company also offers virtual classroom products and end-to-end TV streaming solutions. Kaltura’s platform serves over 800 enterprise clients, helping them engage audiences across functions such as sales, marketing, education, customer support, and entertainment. Its customers include major corporations such as Amazon, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP, Adobe, and IBM, along with top universities, financial institutions, and healthcare organizations.
With this acquisition, Kaltura plans to incorporate eSelf.ai’s conversational avatar technology throughout its product ecosystem. The goal is to develop virtual agents capable of listening, speaking, and interpreting user interactions in real time.
Yekutiel described the deal as a highly strategic move. The company had evaluated several potential partners before determining that eSelf was the best fit for real-time, interactive conversation — going beyond basic video lip-syncing. He added that eSelf brought an advanced speech-to-text and text-to-speech technology stack, along with a strong cultural and geographic alignment that made the partnership especially appealing.
Kaltura’s Vision: From Video Platform to Conversational Experience
For years, most companies have used video primarily for streaming and managing content, but that paradigm is shifting rapidly. Thanks to AI, video can now be generated instantly and tailored for each viewer, creating hyper-personalized experiences that adapt to specific needs and contexts, Yekutiel explained.
He noted that Kaltura’s evolution has been steady — starting with standard video, progressing to personalized video, and now, through eSelf’s technology, adding human-like traits such as facial expressions and speech. This leap makes AI agents more conversational, expressive, and interactive.
The acquisition signals Kaltura’s transformation from a traditional video platform into a video-based customer and employee experience company, using video as the primary interface. Unlike other avatar providers that focus only on digital faces, Kaltura aims to deliver a complete system combining avatars, AI intelligence, and enterprise knowledge — all geared toward driving measurable business outcomes.
Kaltura also intends to introduce standalone, embeddable AI agents designed for use in areas such as marketing, sales, customer service, and employee training. The company is targeting sectors including education, media, telecommunications, e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals.
Addressing reports that Kaltura was exploring a sale or merger valued between $400 million and $500 million, Yekutiel clarified that while the company had discussions with various firms, these talks never advanced to the stage of a potential deal. He pointed instead to Kaltura’s ongoing acquisitions — including this one — as evidence of its long-term commitment to growth and innovation.
This transaction marks Kaltura’s fourth acquisition to date. The company previously acquired cloud TV provider Tvinci in 2014, interactive video firm Rapt Media in 2018, and video conferencing startup Newrow in 2020. eSelf’s most recent funding round raised $4.5 million in December 2024.
Kaltura, which became a public company in 2021, reports annual revenue of around $180 million and is profitable on both an adjusted EBITDA and cash flow basis. The company employs roughly 600 people worldwide.
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