Cinnamon

Cinnamon.video operates as a multi-level engagement video platform with a core mission to empower content creators. The company was founded in 2018 by Róbert Tarabčák, who also serves as the CEO. Tarabčák, originally from Slovakia and living in the Czech Republic, previously worked for Coil, a company focused on web monetization, and was involved with the blockchain startup Ripple. This background directly influenced Cinnamon's business model, which centers on providing creators with tools to produce engaging content and get paid fairly and instantly, without relying on traditional advertising models.

The platform's business model is a departure from ad-based revenue systems common on other video platforms. It integrates with Coil's web monetization service, which allows viewers to subscribe for a monthly fee. As these subscribers watch content on Cinnamon.video, a stream of micropayments is sent directly to the creator's digital wallet. This system aims to solve key problems for creators: engagement, finance, and time. The platform targets all video content creators, from those just starting to established personalities on other platforms looking for alternative revenue streams.

Cinnamon.video's product allows creators to upload full-length videos and also create 15-second highlight clips called "Shorts," designed to be shareable and drive viewers to the original content. A significant technological component is its use of artificial intelligence to analyze viewer emotions. By using a device's front-facing camera, the technology can reportedly recognize viewer emotions with high accuracy, providing creators with feedback to test and improve their content before a wider release. This emotion recognition technology was acquired from a Slovak startup called Youfirst and further developed in partnership with the development company STRV. This embedded AI runs on the client's device, which reduces infrastructure costs and enhances privacy.

The company secured a pre-seed investment of $500,000 in May 2019 from Ripple founder Chris Larsen and Coil CEO Stefan Thomas. This was followed by a $2.5 million seed round from Coil, announced in 2020, to expand its development team and enhance its features.

Keywords: video monetization, content creator platform, web monetization, micropayments, creator economy, Coil, Róbert Tarabčák, ad-free video, direct creator payment, AI video analytics, emotion recognition technology, STRV, video engagement, creator tools, digital content platform, blockchain, Ripple, startup, video streaming, Shorts clips