Skara is a no-code video platform built to empower independent creators. Skara looks to enable anyone who is earning revenues from their videos to create their streaming video app and website instantly. This idea came from the founder watching close family members struggle to earn revenue from their skills, they live in small towns with their limited potential of customers.
Some of them did try the video route and still post their videos but it’s not possible for people who are in full-time work to carve out a lot of time to understand algorithms and make their content viral etc. Skara is a solution that looks to address this problem.
Medianews4u.com caught up with Ankita Saikia, co-founder Skara to find out more.
Q. How did the idea of launching Skara, a no-code platform for streaming apps come about?
Skara is a platform that enables anyone who is earning revenues from their videos to create their streaming video app and website instantly. This idea came from watching close family members struggle to earn revenue from their skills, they live in small towns with their limited potential of customers.
Yes some of them did try the video route and still post their videos but it’s not possible for people who are in full-time work to carve out a lot of time to understand algorithms and make their content viral etc.
Skara is a solution that addresses this problem. Our product is built in a way where you can build your online business from anywhere and earn money irrespective of your social media discoverability. This is also the reason our subscription pricing depends on the size of your business making it affordable for even small businesses, to earn money directly from users.
To use Skara you need zero tech knowledge. By offering a no-code solution, we empower creators to launch their apps, own their audience, and monetize content without restrictions. Today, Skara is helping creators and brands take full control of their digital presence.
Q. Could you talk about the R&D that went into Skara?
Our team studied how OTT giants operate and reimagined that experience for independent creators – simplifying technology without compromising quality. We tested multiple streaming infrastructures to ensure the fastest, smoothest viewing experience. After months of research into our product and our competitors, we discovered three important features that were important for our users –
– Ease of Use – While researching our competitors and analysing our users, we found that their interface was quite complicated. Users had to toggle between different sections and menus to launch their streaming site, making the process extremely cumbersome and time-consuming. Skara has a smooth interface in the sense, that it’s very simple to use and navigate. Users can simply sign up: host, manage, and distribute their videos from one single dashboard.
– Quick Deployment – Unlike our competitors who take months and even days to set up streaming services for their users, we take pride in doing so within minutes, reducing the time to market in product development.
– Analytics – With analytics, our users can track all their video performance and understand which videos were most watched. This will help them to tailor their content accordingly, and grow their paid subscriber base. We give our target customers their user data that can be used for their organisation and for other purposes, helping them to optimise their content better.
Q. How important is the media and entertainment industry for Skara as a client base?
This is an important need considering the new regulations that have come both in public platforms like YouTube etc and government regulations that are trying to increase censorship. Independence of media is restricted and as such mainstream media has low trust among the public worldwide.
Skara enables independent news media, subscription-based entertainment, news channels, and other creator and businesses to create their own branded streaming app and website where they completely control their content and earn directly from their subscribers.
Q. How did the idea for the digital campaign #PauseToPlay come about?
This campaign originated from a casual morning conversation where we were comparing notes on our Holi plans and how social media addiction is real. Even during festivities, we spend so much of our time on social media.
Hence #PauseToPlay came into play where we tried to get people to reconnect with their interests, family, and friends offline. It was a way to detox from social media and the general hustle- and bustle of life.
Q. What other marketing activities and innovations can one expect in the coming months from Skara?
We do have a few innovations up our sleeve like creating more monetization options for our users, more integrations and collaborations, and additional features. It also depends on the user’s requirements. If they want us to integrate an important feature, we do that on a priority basis.
Q. Could you shed light on Skara’s business model?
We are a subscription-based platform with monthly subscriber fees, where creators can build, launch, and manage their streaming apps with full control.
Moreover, our pricing structure is flexible, allowing anyone from independent creators to organisations to launch their video streaming app and website in minutes.
Q. How is AI helping Skara in areas like analysing data and identifying market gaps?
AI-powered tools help Skara analysing data from multiple sources regarding user behaviour, and social media trends.
AI-powered analysis tools enable us to identify unserved segments like rural content creators or niche hobbyists, pinpoint gaps that our competitors are not addressing, and spot emerging markets. This AI-powered data pipeline helps us to turn these insights into action in our product development and marketing strategy.
Q. So far what traction has Skara received? Which are the key categories in which content creation is growing rapidly?
Skara was launched for public users just last month and we are gung ho about getting more people to use our platform. We already had over 100+ beta signups in our beta launch last year and are currently on-boarding users.
Some of our early users have come from alternative health practitioners, counsellors, tutors, and sports coaches. What’s interesting is, that we also have interested users from categories that we didn’t take into account. This helped us broaden our target market.
Q. Is vernacular content a huge whitespace waiting to be tapped? Kindly elaborate.
Oh yes! Getting vernacular content creators to use Skara was always in our plans. The rise in rural internet video users is growing exponentially every year and the most watched content is no longer in English.
There is a huge growth in monetised vernacular content in coaching, education, and news and entertainment media and we are focussing on it. Moreover, we also see, many regional OTT platforms emerging in the Indian Market. Our platform welcomes creators to launch region-specific streaming platforms, breaking language barriers and tapping into untapped markets.
Q. What’s next for creators looking for fair monetisation and content control?
Currently creators with monetizable content, those with established audiences, recurring content, or a need for brand control (e.g., influencers, course creators, or entertainment professionals) are looking for their own space where they own their content and revenue.
Also, the future is all about creator independence. With ad revenues declining and platform restrictions tightening, creators need their distribution channels. Skara is pioneering this shift, offering a scalable, no-code solution for launching independent streaming platforms
Moreover, the algorithm-based public platforms are currently posing problems in the creator economy with AI moderation where their content is being swiftly taken down, and problems of deepfake AI channels cloning them which affects their reputation and income.
They are not in control of their revenue, it is only big-time creators who can make a living on public platforms. Moreover, there is pressure to produce viral content to earn more which leads to exhaustion and burnout.
Q. What other products is Flixbox Solutions looking at launching this year?
We are launching Splay, a no-code 100% customisable video player for web designers and video editors that they can integrate with their projects.
We also have an SDK (software development kit) for Skara users which allows them to integrate Skara infrastructure into their existing apps and websites to offer video streaming content with paywalls without having to migrate their users.
Q. There has been concern from various quarters about the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill. Your views on this?
The proposed Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill by the Indian Parliament is a serious threat to the freedom of content creators. While regulatory frameworks are necessary, there’s a fine line between structured oversight and creative limitations.
The digital ecosystem thrives on innovation, and any framework must ensure that independent creators and OTT platforms retain their creative and financial freedoms.
Skara believes in empowering creators, and we advocate for policies that support content ownership, fair monetisation, and unrestricted audience engagement. A balanced approach is crucial for the industry’s continued growth.
Q. Why is there concern that it might create an uneven playing field in the digital content space?
This bill could result in arbitrary enforcement, putting creators at risk for content that may not align with vague standards.
While large platforms may have the resources to comply with complex regulations, individual creators and small businesses would struggle. This makes for an uneven playing field.
