CAST Software
CAST Software is a Toronto-based developer of lighting design and real-time tracking software for the live entertainment industry. Its WYSIWYG, BlackTrax, CONVRG, and Vivien products serve touring production companies, theatrical and broadcast organizations, and entertainment venues globally, and the company was acquired by Vertus Group in June 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CAST Software does
CAST Software is a Toronto-based developer of lighting design and real-time tracking software for the live entertainment industry, founded in 1994. The company's core technology stack comprises four in-house products: WYSIWYG, a CAD-based lighting design and previsualization suite with what the company describes as the largest fixture library on the market and DMX/console integration; BlackTrax, a vision-based active infrared real-time tracking system that tracks performers, cameras, lights, and scenic elements with millimeter-level precision using BT Sensors (cameras), BT Beacons (wearable transmitters), and BT Stringers; Vivien, an event layout and design tool; and CONVRG, a PTZ camera software automation platform that integrates with BlackTrax for automated onstage camerawork. BlackTrax and supporting hardware are protected by 15+ US utility patents plus US, European, and Chinese design registrations.
The company sells primarily to professional lighting designers, touring production companies, theatrical and broadcast organizations, theme parks, cruise lines, and corporate event producers. Revenue is generated through a mix of software licensing and subscriptions (annual cadence with cloud licensing), hardware sales (BlackTrax tracking components), and professional services delivered through CAST Academy (e.g., BlackTrax Fundamental Training, WYSIWYG certification). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, though a free 10-day trial of Perform Lite replaces the legacy WYSIWYG Demo as the entry point. The go-to-market combines direct sales through the Customer Portal with a global distribution and reseller network, including exclusive BlackTrax distributors in Norway (Prostage AS), Poland (ProAUDIO-AVT), Denmark (Light Partner), Sweden (Intersonic AB), and Australia/New Zealand (CMI). In June 2025, CAST Group of Companies was acquired by Vertus Group, ending 28 years of founder-led ownership under Gil Densham; Stuart Green, appointed CEO in December 2022, continues to lead the business.
CAST Software firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAST Software
- Legal name
- CAST Software Ltd.
- Website
- https://cast-soft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CAST Software is a Toronto-based developer of lighting design and real-time tracking software for the live entertainment industry. Its WYSIWYG, BlackTrax, CONVRG, and Vivien products serve touring production companies, theatrical and broadcast organizations, and entertainment venues globally, and the company was acquired by Vertus Group in June 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAST Software industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lighting Design and Previsualization Software
- NAICS
- Performing Arts Companies (7111), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video) (MPAGAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds) (THAHAEAC), Special Effects (Pyro, Lasers, Confetti, Fog) (MPAGAKAF), Event Communications & Intercom (RF, Wireless, Comms) (MPAGAKAL)
Keywords
Where CAST Software is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CAST Software business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: CAST generates revenue through software product licensing and subscriptions. Products include WYSIWYG (lighting design and previsualization), Vivien (event designer), and BlackTrax tracking software. The company transitioned from traditional demo model to a free 10-day trial of Perform Lite with full functionality, suggesting a subscription-based model.
- Hardware Sales: BlackTrax hardware components including BT Sensors (cameras), BT Beacons, and BT Stringers are sold as part of the tracking system package.
- Training and Education: CAST Academy provides training courses such as BlackTrax Fundamental Training (two-day course in Toronto) and WYSIWYG certification programs through educational partners like SchoolTraining in Spain.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Perform Lite Free Trial |
| Subscription | Annual | Subscription-based Software |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CAST Software product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAST Software develops and sells live event production software and hardware for the entertainment industry. Flagship products include WYSIWYG (lighting design and previsualization CAD suite), BlackTrax (real-time performer and camera tracking system with BT Sensors, BT Beacons, and BT Stringers), CONVRG (PTZ camera automation platform), and Vivien (event designer), distributed via direct customer portal sales, subscription licensing, and a global network of regional distributors.
Product overview
CAST Software develops a portfolio of award-winning live production solutions for the entertainment, special events, and meetings industries. The core product suite includes WYSIWYG (lighting design and previsualization CAD software), BlackTrax (real-time tracking system), and CONVRG (automated PTZ camera tracking). These products work together to provide end-to-end control from design through execution—WYSIWYG handles CAD-based planning and visualization, BlackTrax provides infrared-based performer and object tracking for automated lighting, and CONVRG extends this tracking to automated camera work. Supporting offerings include Vivien for event design, the BlackTrax hardware ecosystem (sensors, beacons, stringers), and CAST Academy for professional training and certification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WYSIWYG: Award-winning lighting design and previsualization suite for entertainment industry production design and execution.
- BlackTrax
- Vivien
- CONVRG
- CAST Academy
Products and services
- WYSIWYG Award-winning lighting design and previsualization software suite providing CAD-based design, real-time visualization, 3D rendering, DMX programming, and the industry's largest fixture library; targeted at professional lighting designers and production companies in the entertainment industry.
- BlackTrax Real-time tracking system for live production using active infrared technology to track performers, cameras, lights, and scenic elements with millimeter-level precision; enables automated follow spotting and dynamic lighting that responds to performer movement.
- BlackTrax Hardware (BT Sensors, BT Beacons, BT Stringers) Hardware components of the BlackTrax tracking ecosystem, including tracking cameras, wearable transmitters for performers, and flexible tracking points; sold as part of the BlackTrax system package.
- CONVRG PTZ camera software automation platform that integrates with BlackTrax to provide pinpoint-accurate, real-time camera tracking for live events, automating onstage PTZ camerawork for entertainment productions.
- Vivien Event designer application for creating detailed event layouts and designs; integrates with the WYSIWYG ecosystem for comprehensive event production planning.
- BlackTrax Fundamental Training Two-day instructor-led course teaching design, operation, and integration of BlackTrax systems for live production environments, delivered in Toronto through CAST Academy.
- CAST Academy Online learning platform offering WYSIWYG and BlackTrax training courses, certification programs, and educational resources for entertainment industry professionals, including WYSIWYG certification pathways delivered through educational partners like SchoolTraining in Spain.
Quantifiable outcome
- Millimeter-level tracking accuracy validated by professional touring productions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CAST Software
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CAST Software technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature8 records
CAST Software partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered regional, educational, project and operational.
- Prostage ASregionalExclusive BlackTrax distributor in Norway, handling sales and support of BlackTrax real-time tracking products in the Norwegian market.
- ProAUDIO-AVTregionalBlackTrax distributor in Poland, responsible for distribution and support of BlackTrax products in the Polish market.
- CMIregionalExclusive distributor for BlackTrax in Australia and New Zealand, providing local sales, support, and service for the real-time tracking products.
- Intersonic ABregionalBlackTrax distributor in Sweden, handling distribution and support of BlackTrax products in the Swedish market.
- Light PartnerregionalExclusive BlackTrax distributor in Denmark, responsible for sales and support in the Danish market.
- SchoolTrainingeducationalEducational partner in Málaga, Spain offering WYSIWYG training as part of their Masters in Theatre and Show Lighting program. Taught by Lolo Salas and Pepe Rojo following CAST WYSIWYG syllabus, with students able to become Certified WYSIWYG Users.
- TAITprojectStaging and automation vendor partnership for productions like Eric Church's Gather Again Tour, where BlackTrax integrates with TAIT's Navigator Camera System via RTTRP-M protocol.
- PanasonicprojectTechnology partnership demonstrated at HUB Montreal Conference featuring BlackTrax integration with Panasonic PTZ cameras (AW-UE100 and AW-UE150) and CONVRG software.
- SolotechprojectEsports demonstration partnership featuring BlackTrax integration with L-Acoustics L-ISA Immersive Audio System and Waveform esports production services.
- Revulytics (Malta) Ltd.operationalProvides Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP) services within CAST Software Products, collecting feature usage and performance data for statistical purposes.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CAST Software competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Capture Visualisation AB: Swedish developer of Capture lighting design and previsualization software, the closest direct competitor to WYSIWYG in CAD-based lighting visualization for entertainment production.
- Avolites: UK manufacturer of Titan lighting consoles and Ai media server, offering lighting control and visualization tools directly comparable to WYSIWYG within live production workflows.
- zactrack International: German developer of real-time tracking systems for stage automation, lighting, and audio; closest direct competitor to BlackTrax in performer/object tracking for live events.
- Follow-Me BV: Dutch provider of follow-spot and performer tracking systems that integrate with major lighting consoles; competes with BlackTrax in automated follow-spot workflows.
- LightConverse: Lithuanian developer of LightConverse lighting visualization and previsualization software used for concerts, TV, and architectural projects; a smaller-scale direct competitor to WYSIWYG.
Broad incumbents
- MA Lighting International: German manufacturer of grandMA lighting control consoles, the dominant lighting-control platform in live entertainment; competes with WYSIWYG's integration story and increasingly embeds visualization capabilities.
- Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC): Major US-based lighting controls and fixtures manufacturer with Eos-family consoles and Paradigm/ArcSystem architectural products; broad incumbent overlapping with CAST in theatrical lighting design workflows.
- Production Resource Group (PRG): Global provider of production services, lighting, video, and rigging for live events; a broad incumbent that both supplies CAST-compatible tracking systems and operates its own visualization/pre-vis capabilities.
Emerging players
- disguise Technologies: UK-based visual production platform combining media servers, previsualization, and tracking workflows for concerts, broadcast, and immersive experiences; emerging overlap with BlackTrax/CONVRG tracking ecosystem.
- Vectorworks (Nemetschek): CAD platform whose Spotlight entertainment module competes with WYSIWYG's design and visualization capabilities among architects, theatre consultants, and production designers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CAST Software social profiles
Digital presenceCAST Software financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAST Software leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
CAST Software subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CAST Software funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAST Software M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CAST Software
What does CAST Software do?
CAST Software develops and sells live event production software and hardware for the entertainment industry. Flagship products include WYSIWYG (lighting design and previsualization CAD suite), BlackTrax (real-time performer and camera tracking system with BT Sensors, BT Beacons, and BT Stringers), CONVRG (PTZ camera automation platform), and Vivien (event designer), distributed via direct customer portal sales, subscription licensing, and a global network of regional distributors.
Is CAST Software a public or private company?
CAST Software is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was CAST Software founded?
CAST Software was founded in 1994. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CAST Software based?
CAST Software is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does CAST Software make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales and training and Education.
Who are CAST Software's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Capture Visualisation AB, Avolites, zactrack International, Follow-Me BV and LightConverse. Broad incumbents are MA Lighting International, Electronic Theatre Controls (ETC) and Production Resource Group (PRG). Emerging players are disguise Technologies and Vectorworks (Nemetschek).
Does CAST Software have an API?
No public API is recorded for CAST Software.
What industry is CAST Software in?
CAST Software's product category is Lighting Design and Previsualization Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAAAG, Event Production & Technical Services (Staging, Lighting, Sound, Video), with a secondary code of THAHAEAC, Staging, Scenic & Set Fabrication (Stages, Backdrops, Scenic Builds). Its NAICS code is 7111 and its SIC code is 7812.