What Switchboard Live does

Switchboard Live is a Philadelphia-based live stream management (multistreaming) platform founded in 2016 that enables organizations to broadcast a single RTMP video source to unlimited simultaneous social and custom destinations including Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Twitch, Instagram, Periscope, and any custom RTMP endpoint. Its core product, Switchboard Connect, is delivered via Switchboard Cloud and is augmented by modular features: PartnerShare (password-free secure guest streaming), QuickEvents (mobile-first field streaming for campaigns and events), Scheduled Events (automated start/stop for public meetings), Event Analytics (audience engagement metrics), and Auto Start Destinations. Upcoming roadmap items include SRT input protocol support, scheduled start/stop, and an archive destination. The platform is explicitly positioned as "government-approved" and is designed to support public-sector compliance with ADA accessibility, Sunshine Laws, and the Brown Act, including PEG-fund eligibility for municipal buyers.

The company's commercial model is a hybrid of freemium PLG and segmented subscription. New users receive their first five streams free via self-serve signup at cloud.switchboard.live, then convert to monthly or annual subscription plans. Political-campaign buyers access dedicated QuickEvents pricing ($499/month subscription or a $2,999 election-cycle one-time fee). Public-sector buyers are served through an exclusive partnership with NATOA (National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors), which provides a Professional Package with exclusive annual pricing, PEG-fund eligibility, and 1:1 onboarding. Go-to-market spans self-serve web acquisition (SMB and individual), the NATOA channel (mid-market municipal and PEG buyers), and a sales-assisted campaign motion for political organizations. Distribution is augmented by content marketing through the company blog, organic social media, webinars and Lunch & Learn events, and partner-driven promotion through NATOA.

Customer concentration spans public sector, political campaigns, house of worship, entertainment, education, and nonprofit/think tank segments, with named logos including Villanova University, Atlantic Council, Tony Bruno Show, Somos Votantes, and multiple US political campaigns (Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton for America, Chris Christie 2024). The company is founder-led by CEO and founder Rudiger J. (Rudy) Ellis, operates with a 1–10 person team, and is alumni of Techstars and Google for Startups programs. Disclosed funding totals approximately $2.1M across 2015–2020 rounds led by New World Angels, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Google for Startups, Mosley Ventures, IDEA Fund Partners, Right Side Capital Management, Techstars, and venVelo, with no subsequent funding rounds publicly disclosed.

Name

Switchboard Live

Legal name

Switchboard Live

Website

https://switchboard.live

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Switchboard Live is a Philadelphia-based multistreaming platform, founded in 2016, that lets organizations broadcast a single live video source to unlimited social and custom RTMP destinations simultaneously, serving primarily public-sector agencies, political campaigns, house-of-worship organizations, and event producers through self-serve subscription and a NATOA channel partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Video Streaming Software

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (5162), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

akta.pro primary industry

Generalist Live Streaming Platforms (Multi-Category) (MPACACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Educational Live Streaming Platforms (Classes/Tutorials) (MPACACAH), Sports Live Streaming Platforms (MPACACAF)

Keywords

• Live video streaming
• Multistreaming platform
• Video distribution software
• Live stream management
• Cloud streaming service

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription Plans: Monthly and annual subscription plans providing access to multistreaming platform with various feature tiers. Campaign-specific pricing at $499/month or $2,999 one-time for political campaigns
2. Usage-based Streaming: Free tier offering first five streams at no cost, enabling pay-as-you-go adoption before committing to subscription

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Switchboard Live is a cloud-based live stream management platform that receives a single RTMP video input and simultaneously distributes it to unlimited destinations such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Twitch, Instagram, and any custom RTMP endpoint. The platform also offers PartnerShare for secure guest streaming, Scheduled Events, Event Analytics, and a mobile QuickEvents app for live streaming from the field without complex setups.

Product overview

Switchboard Live is a government-approved live streaming management platform built as a unified platform-plus-modules architecture. The core platform, Switchboard Connect/Multistreaming, enables users to broadcast to unlimited destinations simultaneously. Key modules include PartnerShare (for secure partner streaming without password sharing), Scheduled Events (for pre-scheduling broadcasts), Event Analytics (for audience insights), and QuickEvents (for mobile-first live streaming). All modules integrate through the Switchboard Cloud platform, which uses RTMP protocol to receive video and redistribute to connected social destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Switchboard Connect / Multistreaming

Quantifiable outcome

• Reach 5X more citizens with live streaming for public sector meetings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NATOA (National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partnership offering Professional NATOA Package with special annual pricing, personalized 1:1 onboarding, and dedicated support for public sector communications. NATOA Executive Director Tonya Rideout stated this creates 'seamless synergy complete with training and use cases to get you up and running quickly and efficiently.' NATOA members can use PEG funds for subscription, as Switchboard Live enables access and distribution of Public, Educational, and Government information.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Restream: Direct multistreaming competitor offering simultaneous broadcast to 30+ social destinations including Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X, and Twitch. Closest direct comparable in core functionality and self-serve PLG model.
• StreamYard: Browser-based multistreaming studio that lets creators broadcast to multiple platforms simultaneously. Same target users (creators, marketers, small orgs) with a comparable PLG, freemium model.
• OneStream Live: Multistreaming platform supporting simulcast to 40+ social destinations and custom RTMP, with pre-recorded and live modes. Closely comparable product offering and SMB target market.
• BoxCast: Live video streaming and distribution platform heavily focused on houses of worship, sports, and local government — overlapping directly with Switchboard's public-sector and worship verticals.
• Castr: Multistreaming and live video hosting platform supporting simulcast to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and custom RTMP endpoints. Comparable feature set with both self-serve and event-focused plans.

Broad incumbents

• Dacast: Established live streaming and video hosting platform with simulcast/multistreaming as part of a broader OTT/video monetization suite. Comparable technology category but wider enterprise focus.
• Vimeo (Livestream): Major video platform with Livestream offering that supports multistreaming alongside hosting, OTT, and enterprise video. Overlaps on simulcast workflow but serves a much broader portfolio.
• Wirecast (Telestream): Professional live video production and encoding software with built-in multistreaming to Facebook, YouTube, and custom RTMP endpoints. Comparable technology layer, more pro/broadcaster oriented.

Regional players

• StreamGo: UK-based live streaming and event platform with simulcast to social destinations, focused on corporate events and webinars. Similar multistreaming functionality but primarily serves UK/European market.

Emerging players

• Resi: Resilient live streaming platform with built-in multistreaming to Facebook, YouTube, and custom destinations, with particular strength in houses of worship and community broadcasting — overlapping with Switchboard's public-sector and worship focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SwitchboardLive
• Facebookfacebook.com/switchboard.live
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/switchboardlive
• Instagraminstagram.com/switchboard.live
• Xx.com/switchboardlive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors9 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Switchboard Live