Rooms, a 3D design app that allows users to build and code interactive 3D rooms and mini-games, has secured a $1 million investment from Google as part of a partnership deal. The investment, structured as a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity), gives Google the ability to invest in Rooms' next round, its Series A. This partnership also grants Rooms early access to Google's Gemini AI, which will be leveraged to enhance the in-app experience.

Founded by former Google employees, including Jason Toff, Bruno Oliveira, and Nick Kruge, Rooms offers a unique platform for users to express their creativity through digital art. The app allows users to build mini 3D spaces, which can be remixed by others into rooms of their own making. With a library of over 10,000 items, users can create complex and interactive spaces, and even tell stories using animation and interactivity.

According to Toff, the app has seen a shift in user behavior, with creators building larger spaces and using the platform to tell stories. One example of this trend is user eodqueen, who progressed from building standard rooms to creating more complex spaces with animation and interactivity.

The app has recently been updated to version 3.0, which includes a new Actions editor that enables users to bring their rooms to life without needing to code. Additionally, Rooms plans to integrate Gemini 2.0 Flash, allowing creators to add narration and characters that can speak, further enhancing storytelling capabilities. This feature will also enable users to choose the tone of characters' speech, such as angry, bored, or enthusiastic.

Rooms has achieved significant milestones, surpassing 1 million rooms built on the platform and offering over 10,000 digital items in its inventory for designing small, digital spaces. Although the startup has not shared updates on user numbers or engagement times, it had grown to a quarter of a million registered users last year.

The funding, which closed in December, adds to the $10 million in seed funding previously raised from investors including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Adobe's Chief Strategy Officer and VP of Design & Emerging Products, Scott Belsky, as well as Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger, among others. Rooms is currently available on the web and on iOS, but has not yet introduced monetization.

This investment and partnership with Google marks a significant step forward for Rooms, enabling the platform to further enhance its user experience and expand its capabilities. As the app continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it leverages Gemini AI to push the boundaries of interactive 3D design.