RiNo-based Levels Beyond ramps up hiring as Reach Engine product nabs big clients

CEO and Founder Art Raymond launched Levels Beyond in 2007 after consulting for major movie studios and cable networks.

 

"The systems that were out there weren't built for handling large libraries of video very well," say Raymond. So he founded the company to build that system: Reach Engine.

 

Now 30 employees strong, the RiNo-based company is profitable and growing. "We're not really a startup," says Raymond. He expects to make five to 10 hires in 2013.

 

Reach Engine "is a hybrid cloud solution," says Raymond. "The reason it's hybrid is because video is so big. You could never have it only in the cloud." For example, one event from Levels Beyond customer Ultimate Fighting Championship can amass six terabytes of data.

 

Raymond says $5 billion to $7 billion has been invested in "third base to home" infrastructure like Netflix and other video streaming services. Reach Engine allows content providers to more effectively get from the metaphorical first to third base. "It's all about end-to-end video production," he says. "We built the factory to prepare video for different deliveries and different markets."

 

One of Levels Beyond's clients is using Reach Engine launching a non-linear, mobile-oriented news delivery system without a cable network. "They're one of the few brands that could challenge CNN," says Raymond, declining to name the client. "They're going to use Reach Engine to invert the concept of a channel."

 

The company closed on a $4.5 million investment from San Diego-based TVC Capital in December 2012. "It's our first round and it should be our last round," says Raymond. "We've been profitable forever."

 

Raymond touts TVC's approach. "They're amazing -- they don't look for home runs," he says. "In Silicon Valley, there were all these firms that wanted to put $30 million in. I don't need $30 million."

Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Eric Peterson with tips and leads for future stories at eric@confluence-denver.com.