Neptune is without doubt one of the latest short-form video apps on the block searching for to compete with main gamers like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
The app, at the moment in beta, has attracted consideration from a whole bunch of hundreds of customers, with 970 testers taking part and 400,000 folks on the waitlist, per the corporate.
Neptune introduced Monday that it’s making ready to launch the app on the App Retailer subsequent week, with plans to roll out on the Google Play Retailer in about six months.
The startup was based by Ashley Darling, who has a background as a expertise director on the OPTYX company, the place she labored with “underestimated” influencers. She got down to develop a platform that emphasizes creativity as a substitute of the variety of followers a creator has.
“I spent years working with impartial creators, each as an influencer myself and later serving to manufacturers,” Darling shared with TechCrunch. “I saved listening to the identical factor from creators and customers, ‘I miss when social media was enjoyable. When it was about creativity, not competitors.’ So, as a substitute of ready for a platform to hear, I constructed one.”
With TikTok’s future nonetheless unsure, Neptune hopes to draw creators on the lookout for an alternate technique to earn income whereas fostering an setting that prioritizes the standard of movies and connections as a substitute of follower counts. The app plans to supply numerous income streams, together with suggestions, livestreams, and subscriptions.
Like its opponents, Neptune contains a discovery device and a vertical feed for customers to swipe via quick movies and have interaction via feedback. Moreover, customers can add a canopy photograph to their profiles, imitating what X and different networking apps supply.
A key distinguishing function of Neptune is that it lets creators cover their whole followers and likes. This “ghost metrics” function is non-obligatory, nonetheless, and is designed to assist customers keep away from the pressures related to follower depend, but nonetheless caters to creators who could need to showcase their metrics.
Based on the corporate, Neptune’s algorithm emphasizes consumer pursuits and content material high quality moderately than creator recognition. Sometimes, social media algorithms prioritize content material with the best engagement, usually leaving lesser-known creators, or “micro-influencers,” at an obstacle.
“We put the ability again within the palms of [the creators] who truly constructed the web. Not the companies, not the algorithms. Neptune is for connection, not clout,” chief advertising and marketing officer Timur Tugberk stated.
One other notable function is “Hop Again,” which permits customers to renew watching a video proper the place they left off, stopping them from dropping their place when the app refreshes.
Neptune is in beta and doesn’t supply all of its meant options but. It’s at the moment on the straightforward aspect, offering solely a video feed and a search operate. When testing the app, we additionally observed it lacks in-app modifying instruments and direct messaging.
The corporate says it’s engaged on including a livestream functionality, the power to create playlists, and music integrations.
