Blackbird’s elevate.io raises £2M to disrupt legacy video editing software

Blackbird just topped up its war chest with a fresh £2 million raise to scale elevate.io — its browser-based collaborative video editor that’s aiming to shake up how creators work.

The raise, which was fully subscribed, will help elevate.io move from a product with clear traction to full-scale growth. The funding will also be used to ramp up product development and go-to-market efforts.

elevate.io was founded in 2017 by Ian McDonough to simplify video editing and content creation for the creator economy. Built on Blackbird’s core technology, the platform delivers pro-grade tools in a streamlined, browser-based experience.

The ‘Figma for Video Editing’ Raises £2M to Scale Collaborative Video Platform

From Zero to Frame-Accurate, Right in the Browser

elevate.io runs entirely in the browser, but it doesn’t feel like it. Built on Blackbird’s patented technology, it delivers the kind of performance you’d expect from a native desktop app — smooth playback, frame-accurate editing, and collaboration that actually works in real time or asynchronously.

Creators don’t need to install software or invest in expensive machines. There’s no lag, no downloads, and no clunky workflows. It’s a full-featured, pro-level editing tool that’s entirely hardware agnostic.

Fixing a Broken Workflow for Creators

Legacy editors were built for a different era — local processing, big files, slow rendering, and team collaboration that feels more like passing a hard drive than working together.

elevate.io flips that. No more sending files back and forth or waiting hours for rendering. It’s all live, all in the browser, and built for creators who don’t have time to waste.

Gaining Traction in a $500 Billion Market

Since launching its paid Creator Plan in February 2025, elevate.io has seen steady growth in subscribers, pointing to strong product-market fit. With the creator economy projected to hit $500 billion by 2027, there’s a wide-open runway ahead. The serviceable market is already estimated at $6.9 billion, and elevate.io is betting it has the right product to take a slice.

Blackbird Executive Chair Ian McDonough said:

“We believe elevate.io will do for video editing what Figma did for design — unlocking collaborative workflows for millions of creators and brands. With our experienced team and proven technology, this raise puts us in an excellent position to scale up.”

With fresh capital in hand and a product that hits the mark, elevate.io is positioning itself as a serious contender in a space that’s long overdue for change.