News Summary

Olyn, a California-based startup founded by Ana Maria Jipa, Jeremias Buireo, Kiran Thomas, and Malcolm Wood, has introduced a novel platform for film distribution, described as ‘Shopify for filmmakers.’ The platform debuted with the ‘Midas Man,’ a biopic about The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein. Olyn allows filmmakers to retain up to 90% of their revenue by enabling them to distribute their films directly to audiences, bypassing traditional streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. This model relies heavily on social referrals, enabling filmmakers to use influencers and content creators as distribution partners. The platform provides comprehensive tools akin to a full streaming service, including geo-targeting and audience analytics, empowering filmmakers to manage their viewership and monetize directly based on engagement. Olyn’s approach seeks to offer independent filmmakers a means to compete against larger productions, addressing issues like piracy by providing global access to content. The startup has secured $2.8 million in funding from Hard Yaka and various angel investors.