Who's who · AI apps & SaaS
Midjourney
Independent, self-funded AI lab known for its image and video generation models
At a glance
- Founded
- 2022
- People
- David Holz, Founder and chief executive
- Known for
- Midjourney V8.2, Midjourney video, Midjourney web app
- Funding
- Private and self-funded; no outside investors
- Website
- https://www.midjourney.com
Midjourney is an independent AI lab best known for its image generation models, which people use through its website and Discord server. It was founded in 2022 and is led by its founder and chief executive, David Holz, who has said it remains independent with no investors. It also makes video generation models, the first of which it released in June 2025, and sells access through monthly subscriptions.
Its current image model family is V8. V8.2, focused on image quality and personalisation, launched in July 2026, and an edit model for V8 followed in August. In August 2025 Meta agreed to license Midjourney's image and video technology, with Meta's researchers working with the lab to bring it into future Meta models and products.
The lab faces copyright suits from Disney and Universal and from Warner Bros., filed in 2025, over images of their characters. Midjourney argues that training on such images is fair use, and in July 2026 the cases were in the discovery stage, when each side must hand over evidence. It is also widening its scope: in June 2026 it unveiled its first hardware project, and in July 2026 it bought the astrology app Co-Star, whose staff of about two dozen joined Midjourney.
Sources
- Midjourney, Version 8.2, 2026-07-24
- TechCrunch, Meta partners with Midjourney on AI image and video models, 2025-08-22
- TechCrunch, Midjourney wants Hollywood studios to reveal the details of their AI usage, 2026-07-04
- TechCrunch, Midjourney acquired the astrology app Co-Star, 2026-07-24
Facts last checked 2026-10-02