56 START-UP ALLEY Kast
Words by Ann-Marie Corvin
KAST
This month’s start-up has developed a
FEED met watch party start-up Kast earlier last month at Cannes’ first ever virtual film festival, which saw an industry come together via an online platform to watch screenings and explore new ways of working during the Covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately for this San Diego- and Helsinki-based firm, it was already looking at getting into the world of events and festivals, well before the onslaught of coronavirus took the world online. Founded in 2015 by professional gamer-turned-entrepreneur Justin Weissberg and Mark Ollila, a former Nokia and gaming company exec, the Kast app started off as a way for gamers to share content. Following the firm’s acquisition of Rabbit, a popular watch party app whose owners wanted out, Kast has since evolved into a mash-up of Netflix Party, Houseparty and Zoom. Up to 20 people can act as party hosts and share their screens (like guesting DJs) and up to another 100 can watch content. The host(s) control access and can create private, invite-only events or public parties, which anyone can join. The app works via a desktop PC or Mac using Chrome or Microsoft Edge browsers, although it is possible to view streams on iOS/Android devices, and a fully-featured mobile release is slated for later on this summer. Ollila says that his business aims to create “virtual living rooms” and “an ambient togetherness”. He explains: “People might jump into the platform not looking to find content but looking to see
watch party app that aims to take the loneliness out of lockdown and turn binge watching into a time to connect
WE LIKE TO PARTY Justin Weissberg was a professional gamer before launching Kast with partner Mark Ollila
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