The startup eebo has developed a video platform to help creators of film, music or educational content to be discovered and monetize.
The eebo story began in May 2019, when Austrian Agnes Aistleitner arrived in Uganda and was “perplexed” by the high cost of Internet in the region, and knew immediately that she had stumbled upon a problem that needed a solution.
The “eebo boxes” were born. Each box is about the size of a desktop printer, is square in shape, hosts content locally, and allows users to stream videos through their Wi-Fi signal.
“After two months of successful deployments at universities and restaurants in January and February 2020, the world was overwhelmed by the covid-19 pandemic, forcing everyone into isolation,” Aistleitner told Disrupt Africa.
The pandemic has forced eebo to adapt, with the startup changing its strategy, focusing on acquiring creators on its online streaming platform. Aistleitner said the move had been a game changer.
Eebo is a digital video library that allows creators to continuously show and sell their works
“We have grown from a free streaming platform only available in select locations within Kampala to a marketplace for content creators to sell their original productions, earning per transaction, with integration of multiple payment platforms, and access to real-time knowledge from the palm of your hand,” she said.
Before the startup, there was no way for African content creators to monetize their music videos, vlogs, movies, documentaries or television shows, with the exception of YouTube, video retailers or broadcast on a television station.
“This meant that a lot of quality productions were gathering dust in storage waiting for the day a buyer came in and stumbled upon them,” said Aistleitner. “eebo is a digital video library that allows creators to continuously show and sell their works.”
While YouTube requires users to have a minimum amount of subscribers and viewing time to be eligible for monetization through ads, eebo instead allows content creators to be paid per transaction, instantly monetizing their customer base. For those who choose to showcase their creations for free on eebo, the platform is looking into developing an advertising option.
Aistleitner said she is pleased with the uptake over the past year, and eebo is now working on building on its strong start. While pleased with the progress, she said the eebo team still has a lot of experimentation to do as it tries to figure out how to provide value to creators and the public who are willing to pay. The startup received some funding in July 2020 from a group of international tech investors, and is now working to raise another round as it looks to grow.
“We are a global streaming company available to users around the world. Some of our successful creators are from Nigeria because of the option to trade in US dollars, which are globally understood,” said Aistleitner.
“Uganda may have the largest number of creators and users, but we are working on integrating mobile money into Kenyan shillings, the Nigerian Naira and the Rwandan franc to be on track to have all major currencies across Africa by the end of 2021.”
