Mark Cuban Invests in Skylight: A TikTok Alternative

Skylight Launches as a TikTok Alternative

A new startup, Skylight, is entering the short-form video market with an alternative to TikTok. The mobile application is being released to the public on Tuesday, following a rapid 10-week development period.

Built on the AT Protocol

Skylight leverages the AT Protocol, the same technology powering the social network Bluesky and a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications. This foundation allows for interoperability with other ATProto-based platforms.

Core Features and Functionality

The app, created by co-founders Tori White (CEO) and Reed Harmeyer (CTO), provides a familiar short-form video experience. Users can utilize an integrated video editor, and engage with content through comments, likes, and shares.

Personalized user profiles and the ability to follow other creators are also included within Skylight’s feature set.

Integration with Bluesky

Due to its construction on the AT Protocol, Skylight immediately connects users to Bluesky’s network, which currently boasts over 33.8 million users. Videos shared on Skylight are therefore accessible and interactive for the Bluesky community.

Engagement can also extend to other ATProto applications, such as Flashes, a platform focused on photo-centric content.

Funding and Inspiration

The company secured funding through a pre-seed round, with participation from Mark Cuban and Graham & Walker Venture Fund. Cuban had previously expressed interest in backing a TikTok alternative built upon the AT Protocol.

Tori White, formerly a travel influencer and now a self-taught software developer based in Seattle, explained that the idea for Skylight originated from concerns about a potential TikTok ban in the U.S.

Addressing Concerns About Platform Stability

White initially backed up her TikTok videos in anticipation of a ban, but remained concerned about losing her established community and accumulated interactions. She and Harmeyer then explored the potential of the ATProto protocol.

Reed Harmeyer emphasized the stability of the AT Protocol during the ATmosphere Conference in Seattle. He noted the absence of service disruptions, contrasting it with the early challenges faced by Twitter.

A "Ban-Proof" Social App

Harmeyer and White recognized an opportunity to construct a new social application on the protocol that could potentially withstand future restrictions or bans.

Strategic Distribution and Community Building

White proactively documented Skylight’s development process on TikTok, generating awareness and attracting a base of potential users. This approach focused on building anticipation and demonstrating the app’s evolution.

She explained that they prioritized distribution from the outset, sharing their progress even before the initial code was written.

Early Traction and Future Development

White’s TikTok profile, @buildwithtori, has amassed nearly 50,000 followers, many of whom participated in early testing phases.

Skylight currently supports video uploads up to three minutes in length, an increase from the previous one-minute limit. However, White envisions Skylight evolving beyond a simple decentralized TikTok clone.

Upcoming Features and Customization

Future plans include allowing users to personalize their content feeds, potentially through the implementation of innovative gestures beyond traditional swiping and scrolling.

Additional features under development encompass support for sounds, duets, stitching, bookmarks, and curated playlists.

Availability

The application is currently available in beta on the Google Play Store and has now been publicly released on Apple’s App Store following an initial testing period.