The Kaltura eSelf acquisition marks a major move in the evolution of AI-powered video technology. New York-based Kaltura, known for its enterprise-grade video platform, has announced that it will acquire eSelf.ai, an Israel-based startup specializing in AI-driven conversational avatars, in a deal worth $27 million.

With this acquisition, Kaltura is positioning itself at the forefront of the next big wave in video technology — combining video with lifelike, interactive AI personalities that can talk, listen, and respond in real time.

eSelf’s Cutting-Edge Conversational Avatars

Founded in 2023 by Alan Bekker and Eylon Shoshan, eSelf quickly became a standout player in the AI video space. Bekker, who previously sold his first company Voca to Snap in 2020, brings deep expertise in speech recognition, text-to-video generation, and real-time screen interaction.

The Kaltura eSelf acquisition brings these capabilities directly into Kaltura’s ecosystem. eSelf’s platform supports 30+ languages and offers an intuitive studio for creating and customizing photorealistic AI avatars — digital humans capable of holding real-time conversations.

Under the deal, Bekker and Shoshan will join Kaltura’s leadership team, and all eSelf employees will transition to the Kaltura organization.

Why Kaltura Is Betting Big on Conversational Avatars

According to Kaltura CEO Ron Yekutiel, this acquisition represents the company’s biggest step toward making video more interactive and human-like.

“We’ve moved beyond static and on-demand video. The next evolution is AI video that listens, speaks, and understands,” Yekutiel said. “The Kaltura eSelf acquisition gives us the ability to integrate lifelike conversational agents directly into our platform.”

These AI avatars won’t just appear on video — they’ll actively engage users, making training sessions, sales demos, or support interactions more personal and responsive.

A Natural Fit for Kaltura’s Global Video Ecosystem

Kaltura already serves over 800 enterprise clients, including major brands like Amazon, Oracle, Salesforce, and IBM, as well as top universities and media companies. Its suite of products spans virtual classrooms, webinars, corporate training, and end-to-end TV streaming.

By combining this infrastructure with eSelf’s conversational AI technology, Kaltura aims to create AI-driven agents that can:

• Guide customers through onboarding or sales
• Conduct virtual training sessions
• Offer interactive Q&A during webinars
• Personalize video-based support

The result, according to Yekutiel, is a video experience that feels human, intelligent, and real-time.

From Video Streaming to AI-Powered Human Interaction

In an era where AI-generated content is reshaping industries, the Kaltura eSelf acquisition signals a strategic shift from traditional video hosting to intelligent video engagement.

“We started with basic video, then personalized content, and now we’re bringing AI faces, voices, and emotions into the mix,” Yekutiel said. “Our goal is to make video communication as natural as speaking to another person.”

The company is already developing standalone, embeddable AI agents that can be used in sectors like education, healthcare, financial services, telecom, and e-commerce.

A Growing Portfolio of Smart Acquisitions

The Kaltura eSelf acquisition is the company’s fourth major buyout, following its acquisitions of Tvinci (2014), Rapt Media (2018), and Newrow (2020). Each deal has strengthened Kaltura’s foothold in the video technology ecosystem.

Kaltura, which went public in 2021, now reports around $180 million in annual revenue and maintains profitability on an adjusted EBITDA basis. It employs roughly 600 people worldwide.

Despite media speculation about a possible sale, Yekutiel dismissed the rumors, saying the company remains focused on strategic growth and innovation — not mergers.

The Future of AI Video Is Here

The Kaltura eSelf acquisition underscores a growing industry trend: AI is no longer just automating video creation — it’s humanizing it.

By integrating conversational avatars into its platform, Kaltura aims to revolutionize how people interact with videos — transforming them from one-way communication into two-way conversations.

“Video is becoming the new interface,” Yekutiel said. “With eSelf, we’re building a future where digital humans power every part of enterprise communication.”