BoxCast, a firm headquartered in Cleveland and focused on simplifying live event broadcasting, has secured $20 million in Series A investment.

According to co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Daily, when the company began operations in 2013, live streaming was a complex undertaking that most people didn’t fully grasp, often requiring specialized expertise. BoxCast aims to democratize this process, making it available to a wider audience.

The company has developed a range of video encoding hardware, but Daily emphasized that the “compact device” represents only one component of the comprehensive BoxCast system. This platform is engineered to address all aspects of live streaming, offering features like 1080p broadcast capability, distribution to platforms such as Facebook Live and YouTube, as well as custom website integration, detailed analytics, and optional enhancements like automated scoreboard presentations and event registration services.

Subscription costs begin at $99 monthly for the “essential” streaming package, with an additional $399 for a BoxCast encoder. (Streaming directly from an iOS device is also an option.)

The year 2020 proved to be a pivotal period for the company, as Daily described, with BoxCast currently facilitating the live broadcast of millions of events annually—ranging from athletic competitions and religious ceremonies to virtual wildlife tours presented by the Sri Lankan tourism authority.

While the return of in-person gatherings is anticipated, Daily believes that live streams will continue to be a valuable method for reaching remote audiences and expanding the reach of businesses and organizations through innovative content offerings.

Chief Operating Officer Sam Brenner noted that BoxCast’s workforce has expanded from under 40 employees prior to the pandemic to 56, and is projected to double in size over the next year.

Updata Partners spearheaded the Series A funding round, with additional investment from audio equipment producer Shure.