Runway is building the foundational artificial intelligence to simulate and generate our visual world, pioneering a new paradigm for creative media and entertainment through its state-of-the-art video generation models and ambitious research into general world models.
Runway’s differentiation is twofold: it is both a product-driven business with industry-leading video generation tools and a research-driven moonshot aimed at building General World Models (GWMs). While competitors like OpenAI and Google focus broadly, Runway has deeply verticalized its efforts on the mechanics and narrative of visual media.
This focus is evident in its product evolution. Its flagship Gen-4.5 model is engineered not just for visual fidelity but for creative control and consistency—maintaining characters, objects, and locations across scenes, which is critical for storytelling. Beyond the API, the company operates Runway Studios, a film and animation production arm that both validates its technology and creates new IP. This unique structure—research lab, developer platform, and studio under one roof—allows Runway to rapidly close the loop between cutting-edge research, product application, and real-world creative use.
Runway's funding history reflects its rapid ascent as a leader in generative video AI. In April 2025, the company announced a $308 million Series D funding round led by General Atlantic, with participation from Fidelity, Baillie Gifford, Nvidia, and SoftBank. This round doubled its valuation from $1.5 billion to approximately $3.0 billion and brought its total funding to about $545 million.
According to CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela, the capital is earmarked for three key areas: advancing core AI research (particularly towards General World Models), scaling hiring for research and engineering, and expanding Runway Studios. The company has stated an ambitious goal to reach $300 million in annualized revenue in the current year, which will be driven by its enterprise API, creative tools platform, and studio productions. Its first major Hollywood deal with Lionsgate to build custom AI models signals a clear enterprise and studio monetization path.
Runway describes its culture as a fusion of art and science, bringing together diverse minds from research, engineering, and creative fields. The company's stated values are action-oriented: Give a shit, Create clarity, Build trust, and Raise the bar.
Employee testimonials on the careers page emphasize a high-impact, collaborative environment. One engineer notes, "At Runway, I cherish the teamwork, customer engagement, and shared innovation that turn challenges into opportunities," while a customer experience team member states the work is "rejuvenating rather than draining."
Runway is actively hiring across its global offices in New York, San Francisco, Seattle, London, and Tel Aviv, as well as remotely. Current open roles critical to tech candidates include:
Impact is a central theme. Engineers and researchers are building the foundational models and infrastructure for "world simulators." Product managers define the tools that will shape a new creative ecosystem. Employees in the nascent Studios division are literally inventing the future of filmmaking.
Benefits & Perks are top-tier, reflecting the competitive market for AI talent: 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision for U.S. employees and dependents; 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave; unlimited PTO with a minimum encouraged; a $600 annual wellness stipend; a $600 learning stipend; 401(k) matching; and a fully remote-first culture with annual travel stipends for collaboration.
Runway operates in a high-stakes arena with significant headwinds:
Runway is positioned at the epicenter of two seismic shifts: the generative AI revolution and the transformation of media production. Its long-term ambition to build General World Models (GWM) that can simulate interactive realities is a foundational play for the future of entertainment, simulation, and potentially robotics.
The Total Addressable Market (TAM) is vast, spanning the global visual effects and animation industry, the entire film/TV production sector, and burgeoning markets in AI-powered marketing, gaming, and design. The company's next likely milestones involve launching more advanced and controllable GWM variants, securing more major studio and enterprise partnerships, and scaling Runway Studios to produce award-winning, AI-native content that validates the technology's creative potential.
Explore current open roles and learn more about life at Runway on their careers page: Runway Careers.
Underdog.io partners with top startups like Runway on confidential talent searches. To be considered for opportunities here and at other high-growth AI companies, create a profile on Underdog.io to get matched with roles that fit your skills and ambitions.
What is a Runway career?
A Runway career refers to an entry-level or early-career role at a high-growth startup. These positions are designed to be a launchpad, providing substantial responsibility, rapid skill development, and a direct impact on the company's trajectory from day one.
What are the benefits of a Runway career?
Runway careers offer accelerated professional growth, hands-on experience with significant responsibility, exposure to various business functions, and the opportunity to grow with a company. They often serve as a direct path to leadership positions as the startup scales.
What companies hire for Runway roles?
High-growth startups across all industries, especially in tech, hire for these roles. This includes fast-scaling companies in their Series A to C funding stages, similar to the early days of now-established giants like Stripe, Notion, and Airbnb.
How can I get a Runway job with no experience?
Focus on showcasing transferable skills, initiative, and cultural fit. Build a project portfolio, contribute to open-source projects, or start a blog to demonstrate passion. Network strategically and emphasize your adaptability, problem-solving skills, and eagerness to learn in your applications.
What skills are most important for Runway careers?
While technical skills vary by role, key universal skills include adaptability, proactive problem-solving, strong communication, collaboration, and a growth mindset. The ability to learn quickly and operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment is critical.
How is Underdog.io different from other job boards for Runway careers?
Underdog.io is a curated platform that connects high-potential candidates directly with opportunities at top-tier, high-growth startups. We focus on quality over quantity, providing a more targeted and supportive application process for both candidates and companies.
