Kiswe (company)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Internet video technology |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Jeong Kim, Wim Sweldens, Jimmy Lynn |
| Headquarters | Murray Hill, New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Live streaming and interactive video platforms for sports and concerts |
Kiswe Mobile, Inc., operating under the name Kiswe, is a company specializing in internet video technology headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey. It focuses on creating platforms for live streaming and interactive video, with a primary emphasis on sports and concert events.
History
Established in late 2013, Kiswe was co-founded by Jeong Kim, the former Bell Labs president; Wim Sweldens, a communications expert previously at Alcatel-Lucent; and Jimmy Lynn, who brought experience as a sports executive at AOL and as a faculty member at Georgetown’s business school. While operating in stealth mode, the founders highlighted their proprietary technology enabling interactive video experiences in sports. Their initial capital target was approximately $1 million.
Clients
The company's inaugural significant partnership was with the Washington Mystics of the WNBA, launching the "Mystics Live" mobile application in May 2014. This app provided free local streaming featuring multiple camera views, instant replays, and live statistics. Notably, Kim holds a stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the parent organization of the Mystics. The service integrated "first screen" video content with "second screen" interactive elements, taking advantage of the WNBA’s receptiveness to innovative business models and distinctive broadcasting rights.
In 2019, Kiswe created an application for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) that combined live streaming with interactive elements such as real-time stats, polls, trivia contests, prediction games, and chat rooms. PFL CEO Pete Murray emphasized intentions to add sports betting functionalities.
That same year, Kiswe teamed up with streaming platform Vidgo, incorporating social TV features and receiving investment from Vidgo. Additionally, Kiswe collaborated with the CrossFit Games, deploying its cloud-based production system to enable community-driven broadcasts customized by audience preferences and language.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiswe expanded its offerings to virtual concerts. In June 2020, it entered into a strategic worldwide alliance with K-pop company Big Hit Entertainment, launching with BTS's virtual event Bang Bang Con: The Live. This concert generated $18.1 million in revenue and attracted over 756,000 simultaneous viewers across 107 countries. Following this success, Kiswe and Big Hit introduced the VenewLive virtual concert platform; in 2021, both Universal Music Group and YG Entertainment invested in VenewLive.
In April 2023, Kiswe partnered with Gray Television to obtain regional broadcast rights for the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, succeeding Bally Sports Arizona for the 2023–24 season. Kiswe developed an over-the-top subscription service titled "Suns Live." Furthermore, Kiswe collaborated with the Utah Jazz to launch its "Jazz+" streaming platform.