Bubo², a next-generation startup transforming flat photos and videos into interactive 3D listings, has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding to accelerate its AI-powered platform. The round was led by Fifth Quarter Ventures, with participation from South Central Ventures, underscoring strong investor belief in the market demand for immersive e-commerce and high-value asset transactions.

Founded in 2024 by Perica Milošević and Milos Popović, Bubo² is headquartered in Delaware with operational offices in Belgrade. Their mission is to eliminate the ambiguity of static listings and enable buyers to explore items - whether a yacht, heavy machinery, or auctioned collectibles - in a browser-based 3D environment. This removes guesswork, speeds decision-making, and builds trust in cross-border sales where physical inspection isn’t always possible.

Simplifying 3D Technology for Sellers

The Bubo² platform is built to simplify the process for sellers. Users upload photos or short videos, and the system automatically converts them into interactive 3D models. Those models are optimized for speed, small in file size, and can be embedded on websites with a simple snippet of code. Post-processing, annotations, analytics, and global content delivery are included as part of the offering, making it easy to scale across thousands of listings. By prioritizing ease of integration, Bubo² ensures its technology doesn’t create friction but instead fits naturally into existing digital workflows.

And this is where founders should lean in - because hidden in Bubo²’s trajectory is one of the sharpest lessons in go-to-market execution: your product must tie directly to measurable business outcomes, not just features. Bubo² didn’t position itself as “cool 3D tech.” Instead, the team focused on proving how interactive listings cut sales cycles, reduce returns, and replace in-person inspections. That focus transformed a “nice-to-have” into a “need-to-have.” For early-stage founders, the takeaway is clear: build metrics into your product from day one that prove customer ROI within the first 30-60 days of adoption. Fast wins close deals, unlock enterprise budgets, and accelerate investor confidence. The companies that break out are the ones that design their onboarding to deliver undeniable economic proof in the shortest possible window.

Why Investors Backed Bubo²

This clarity of value proposition explains why investors were quick to back the company. By aligning product outcomes with seller economics, Bubo² positions itself as an operational lever for businesses rather than a cosmetic upgrade. That alignment is critical in high-value markets such as equipment sales, marine assets, and global auctions, where even small efficiency gains translate into large financial impacts.

Scaling with Fresh Capital

The $2M pre-seed round will be directed toward scaling the AI model pipeline, strengthening engineering capacity, and expanding collaborations with early partners in equipment, auction, and rental industries. In addition, the company plans to invest in advanced analytics features, allowing sellers to measure exactly how 3D interactions influence conversions and buyer behavior. These insights will enable continuous optimization and give sellers more precise control over how they present their listings.

Riding the Wave of Market Timing

Market timing could hardly be better. As global commerce becomes increasingly digital, the expectation of immersive, accurate online evaluation is shifting from optional to standard. The pandemic accelerated adoption of virtual tools, and in categories where trust and condition are critical, such as used machinery or specialty equipment, immersive 3D can make the difference between a transaction closing or collapsing. By ensuring models are fast, device-agnostic, and simple to deploy, Bubo² has removed common adoption barriers and created a practical path to mainstream use.

A Blueprint for Founders

Ultimately, this funding signals more than just capital raised. It reflects validation of a broader shift: buyers now demand confidence before committing to big-ticket purchases online, and sellers need tools to deliver that trust at scale. Bubo² is proving that when technology is designed to reduce friction and directly impact financial outcomes, it transcends novelty and becomes infrastructure. For founders and investors alike, that’s the blueprint worth studying.