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Clout Kitchen Raises $4.45M for Backseat AI, a Creator-Voiced League of Legends Companion

Clout Kitchen’s $4.45 million seed round backed Backseat AI, a League of Legends companion offering creator-voiced commentary and gameplay guidance.
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Clout Kitchen announced a $4.45 million seed round in October 2024 to grow its creator-focused AI business, including Backseat AI, a League of Legends companion that paired gameplay guidance with commentary in a creator’s voice. The company said it would use the funding to expand Backseat, grow its team, establish a US office and build shared technology for future products.

How much did Clout Kitchen raise, and who invested?

Clout Kitchen announced a $4.45 million seed round co-led by a16z SPEEDRUN and Peak XV’s Surge. The company also named AppWorks, Antler, Hustle Fund, Founders Launchpad and Orvel Ventures, along with creator and industry investors. Clout Kitchen’s announcement described the financing as support for scaling the team, establishing a US office, expanding Backseat and developing a shared internal technology stack for future creator-powered products.

Clout Kitchen described itself as a consumer AI startup operating in Los Angeles and Manila. Its announcement identified Justin Gorriceta-Banusing as CEO and Marcel Feldkamp as CBO.

What is Backseat AI?

Backseat AI was Clout Kitchen’s first product: an in-game buddy for League of Legends, co-built with Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp. It was designed to give players real-time advice and commentary voiced by a creator. The intended audience, according to GamesBeat, was entry-to-mid-level players.

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How was Backseat AI supposed to work in League of Legends?

Backseat combined spoken, creator-voiced commentary with practical gameplay suggestions. Company materials said its guidance could cover character and item choices. GamesBeat also described visual overlays that supplied tips, tricks and stats. CEO Justin Gorriceta-Banusing summarized the idea to the outlet as a real-time companion that could help players improve while commentating on the action in a familiar creator’s voice.

GamesBeat reported that the product was built to comply with Riot Games’ in-game API. That is a claim about the product as reported at the time, not evidence of a current Riot endorsement or confirmation of present-day compatibility.

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Which creators were available as Backseat buddies?

GamesBeat’s 2024 coverage named Tyler1, streamer and cosplayer Emily “Emiru” Schunk, and professional player Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski. PocketGamer.biz also reported that Emiru and Jankos joined after Tyler1. These are launch-era roster details; they do not establish which creators, if any, are available now.

What did Backseat AI cost, and how much early interest did it get?

GamesBeat reported a full-release price of $4.99 per month for each creator buddy. That figure comes from 2024 coverage and should not be read as current pricing. Clout Kitchen said that more than 45,000 people had signed up for its waitlist after early access began in June 2024. That company-reported total is a count of signups, not paid subscribers or active users.

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What is known about Backseat AI today?

The cited coverage establishes what Clout Kitchen announced and described in 2024; GamesBeat’s page was updated in June 2025. It does not establish Backseat AI’s current availability, supported games, creator roster or price. Treat the listed lineup and subscription figure as historical unless a current company listing confirms otherwise.

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