CEO/Founder at Mini Studio
Youmna Chamcham
On a mission to spread joy to millions of kids and families by building the next gen Disney. Democratizing cartoon production for all through our Saas CartoonCreator tool. Mom, filmmaker & product designer. Years in children's TV + tech.
Questions & Answers
What's a memorable 'aha' moment you've had while building your startup?
The first time we storyboarded one of our cartoon with AI and cracked consistency of characters and environments, we immediately saw a straight silver lining to creating entire feature films this way and taking over the industry.
What problem or opportunity inspired you to start your company, and how has your vision evolved since then?
How can anyone bring their imagination to life and create their own cartoons? Our vision is still 100% there. And the most fun part of it, is we are unlocking and building the technical tool that empowers creators worldwide by mastering the art of making cartoons ourselves. And our cartoons are going fully viral at the same time.
Can you share a distinctive achievement or highlight from your career?
I was the voice of the arabic version of the Pokemon opening credit song, when I was 9 :)
How is your team uniquely positioned to solve the problem you're tackling?
- Extensive background in building global children's entertainment franchises - Emmy nominated and award winning storytellers - Forefront ML/Gen AI engineering team and CTO - World class author, educator and children's development specialists as chief of content - Experience in fully organic online reach and community building (63M views in 30 days, $0 in ads, 500k channel subscribers)
What sets you apart from others in your industry?
At Mini Studio we are equally storytelling and technology. One informs the other and our artists and developers work very closely together to streamline the production of Ai animated cartoons. We're holding ourselves accountable to very high standards of visual and storytelling quality with every piece we produce. We don't think ease of production should compromise on quality and a focus that sets up apart is making world class premium IP with deep core emotional values for kids and families. I believe we're the only AI animation studio out there with a viral AI native IP, seen by millions daily on social media. And, what truly sets us apart, our leadership is made of mothers.
What inspired you to start your business?
Starting this business is my life's mission in many ways. I've known this is what I wanted to do since I attended art school in LA to become a Disney imagineer. Except, all my teachers said, don't work for corporate Disney... I'm an entrepreneur, explorer and self directed person at heart. It was only natural to start the next Disney, powered by AI, and continue my childhood's legacy. There is nothing more powerful than gathering communities and impacting cultures through unforgettable characters and stories.
What's the story behind your company?
I grew up in Beirut on a TV show for kids that my uncle created out of my imaginary friends in the 90's. That show ended being the biggest children's TV show in the Middle East and aired daily for 25 years. Since then i've always wanted to bring everybody's imagination to life, the way it was done to me. When GenAI came out, it was an evidence to create Mini Studio, the next gen animation studio building tools to democratize animation, and producing the global franchises of tomorrow. Just like Disney or Pixar.
Why are you excited about your company/product?
After two years of making AI-animated films, and seeing millions of views online, I strongly believe AI animation is in no way going to replace the need for artists. It still requires craftsmanship, iteration, and storytelling—just like any other medium. And for those willing to explore, it unlocks creative frontiers we’ve only begun to imagine. What excites me most is the democratization of expression that lies ahead, a future where the gap between imagination and realization shrinks for everyone. Where diverse voices find their visual language, and where technical barriers no longer confine anybody’s right to dream. This technological evolution isn't about replacing the artist's soul, but it is about freeing it from constraints, honoring the most human aspects of creativity by allowing more time and space for what no algorithm could ever replicate: the emotional heart of storytelling itself.
