“JL Stream provides a platform for like-minded streamers to connect from anywhere in the world”

While the COVID-19 pandemic came as a monster to the entertainment industry forcing it to shut down, it proved to be an angel for online content creators who saw a radical boom. The long hours at home made creators productive and increased the number of hours one used to spend with handheld gadgets. JL Stream, a social streaming app that allows you to go live in just two clicks, also saw a surge in demand with over 500,000 downloads. The app recorded month-on-month revenue exceeding 100,000 USD since its launch in January this year, emerging as one of the top choices for online content creators. JL (Jaldi Live) Stream, promoted by entrepreneur Raj Kundra and his Bollywood actress-wife Shilpa Shetty Kundra, serves as a dynamic platform to assist the growing needs of over 450 million social media users in India by enabling them to grow their outreach and broadcast their talents to the world while monetizing their content. Kundra, Founder and CEO of JL Stream India, speaks more about this platform and the way forward to be a global player, in a conversation with Ramesh Kumar Raja. Excerpts:

Please tell us about the journey of JL Stream. India has seen substantial growth in data consumption and the online content industry growing in the last five years. Moreover, when a few foreign streaming channels got banned in India, it created an opportunity for ‘Made in India’ brands to take charge and meet the needs of streamers and influencers. And, this is when we thought that JL Stream could become the face of the new internet culture where every person with talent and skills can become a star.

The app is Made-in-india and is available worldwide. It’s a one-of-a-kind platform that enables users to go online with just two clicks, chat with their fans, showcase their talent, while simultaneously monetizing their content. We aim at creating a platform for users to stream, connect with likeminded people and earn while doing that.

What challenges did you face while starting up and how did you overcome them? Catering to the needs of over 450 million social network users in India is not an easy feat, and live streaming is a challenging piece of technology in itself. When we launched our app in January 2021, there was no major live streaming app in the market as the ban on several Chinese products had wiped off some of the major streaming portals in India.

So, to offer online users a technologically advanced platform where they can enjoy and express themselves while interacting with their fans was important. The most challenging part was to find the right programmers who can develop an app that aligns with our vision, and I think we nailed it.

How does your platform JL Stream operate? JL Stream operates on a 50-50 revenue model between the streamer and the platform. Anyone can sign up with a simple 2-click process which involves number authentication and creating a profile. After that, the user is free to either go live, discover and watch streams, send gifts to other streamers, unlock chat and interact with other users, create fun videos introducing their talent or find like-minded people who share common interests. Users can cash out instantly as well.

The ban on Tiktok and other similar platforms might have given a new lease of life for Indian companies. How do you look at this development? I admit that the ban on Tiktok and similar platforms in India definitely provided a fillip to homegrown live streaming ventures to grow and find their niche audience. With the already volatile group of content creators who were keenly searching for a new platform, it provided ample opportunities for Indian companies to gear up, offer better streaming solutions and cater to their needs. Since the bandwidth of online content creators is already increasing in many foreign countries, it is sufficient to say that the online live streaming platforms will grow rapidly in the near future.

What are the traction details of JL Stream and the response so far on Google Play and IOS

App Store? We are building a stimulating global live streaming platform with many features such as chat, live stream, match, one-to-one video call, and K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Streamer) which are talent introduction videos.

The app has over 500,000 downloads on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. It has already made a mark in the gamified live streaming space with a month-onmonth revenue exceeding 100,000 USD. We received a great response and are constantly working on the feedback we get from our users. It has been a wonderful journey so far.

“We are building a stimulating global live streaming platform with many features such as chat, live stream, match, one-to-one video call, and K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Streamer) which are talent introduction videos”

Are your servers capable enough to handle the growing traffic? We are entirely built for scale and are absolutely ready to assist the growing content market in India and abroad. When planning to launch a social streaming app from India, it is almost impossible not to take the numbers into account. It is the

numbers that we really play on with over 300 million potential users to cater. We have auto-scaled our systems and have the resources, technology, and capability to serve millions of users efficiently.

What are you doing at the value addition front to make your platform more exciting? The app provides a platform for like-minded streamers to connect from anywhere in the world. Streamers can find their potential match and chat with them via direct messages or video calls. Besides this, they can create videos introducing their talent. We are also planning to launch some new features through which influencers can challenge their fans and fellow streamers and give them fun tasks, while also earning instant money. We aim at creating an ecosystem where users can be engaged for a long time and enjoy interacting and earning.

Content moderation is an issue of concern for social media platforms. How do you handle it? For us, content moderation is of utmost importance. We have a 24/7 high standard and focused content moderation team and latest technology and machine learning algorithms that ensures that the platform is a safe space for all the users especially female streamers. Apart from this, we have implemented a transparent Conduct & Content policy and we have also set-up continuous reminders of content standards to streamers as they go live.

The team continuously updates and upgrades the best-in-class safety practices and adhere to industry-leading practices.

What efforts are you putting into marketing to make JL Stream more popular and increase its recall value? The app is being promoted by me and my wife and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty. We are getting celebrities on board for our ‘Scheduled Lives’ which helps us in reaching out to more potential customers. We are also reaching out to users in the tier 2 and 3 cities via online associations and running relevant advertisements. We are working with a lot of micro-influencers to amplify the reach of the app and tap into their fan base.

Please tell us about the funds you are raising and how they are going to help your business model? We are raising funds to build a large user base to provide our nextgen influencers with a platform to connect, chat, stream and interact with fans and fellow streamers. Our plan is to enable like-minded people to meet, interact and communicate.

Our business model works on revenue share from users sending streamers gifts which streamers can instantly cash out from the app. We work on a 50-50 revenue model, where the streamers and creators can both benefit and prosper.

“We are targeting the United States, the United Kingdom and other Asian countries’ customer base too and will then move on to other top performing countries. Soon, we will be integrating influencer live streaming e-commerce”

Going forward, what will be your major focus areas? What are your expansion plans? Our priority is to grow our outreach not only in India but across the world. We are targeting the United States, the United Kingdom and other Asian countries’ customer base too and will then move on to other top performing countries. Soon, we will be integrating influencer live streaming e-commerce, which is definitely the way to go forward. We are also closing talks with two major dating brands that wish to enter the Indian market. ■

ramesh@mymobile.co.in