Transforming Livestreaming Audiences into Paid Contributors with Rilla Network | Hal Smith Stevens

Follow Proof of Coverage Media: https://x.com/Proof_Coverage

Connor speaks with Hal Smith Stevens, CEO of Rilla Network, about their mission to revolutionize live streaming with peer-to-peer technology. Hal shares insights from Rilla's recent $3.5 million seed round and his experiences as a third-time founder, highlighting the importance of building strong networks and finding the right investors. They discuss Rilla's decentralized content delivery network, which leverages unused upstream bandwidth from viewers to reduce costs for broadcasters and transform passive audiences into active contributors. Hal explains how this approach enhances engagement and reduces expenses, offering examples like cost savings for sports broadcasters. The conversation also touches on Rilla’s plans for a token to distribute value within their ecosystem, showcasing the potential of blockchain and peer-to-peer technology to shape the future of live streaming.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction

00:35 - Seed Round Experience

01:58 - Advice for First-Time Founders

05:41 - The Importance of Networking

07:24 - Understanding Real Networks

07:36 - Decentralized CDN Concept

08:00 - Core Technology Overview

09:05 - Live Streaming Use Case

12:55 - Transforming Passive Audiences

14:03 - Explaining the Peer-to-Peer Model

19:41 - Concrete Example of Live Streaming

20:59 - Value Attribution and Redistribution

26:25 - Supply Side and Hardware Requirements

29:43 - Blockchain Choice Discussion

30:58 - Future Use Cases Beyond Sports

32:01 - Building a Protocol vs. Application

33:38 - Token Design and Future Plans

Disclaimer: The hosts and the firms they represent may hold stakes in the companies mentioned in this podcast. None of this is financial advice.