ibble

ibble is a social media application built around multimedia conversations rather than one-way posting. Users create threads using video, audio, text or images and others can reply to a specific point in a thread with their own video, audio or photo response. Threads are organized inside communities, which can be public (immediate access) or private (admin approval), and further divided into topic-based channels. Additional mechanics include "Spark" (spinning off a linked new conversation, comparable to a retweet), Q&A threads where fans submit and upvote questions for a creator to answer, direct messages, hashtags, an explore tab with trending communities, people, threads and hashtags, and a daily top-three leaderboard. Posts are capped at one minute for general users and up to 20 minutes for verified creators; verification is offered to people with more than 100,000 followers on another social platform and adds analytics, badging, early feature access and promotional opportunities.

The company positions the product as a multimedia version of a web forum, where content persists and conversations can unfold over days or months rather than expiring. Content moderation is governed by three stated rules: no violence, no bullying, and sexual discussions confined to private channels. There are no camera filters. Use cases promoted by the company include podcasters splitting episodes into chapters and running fan Q&As, influencers engaging fans two-way, conferences organizing sessions by stage or track, authors running chapter-by-chapter book clubs, and coaches distributing content and Q&As to clients at scale.

ibble also operates ibble studios in downtown Austin, Texas, and invites visitors and creators to tour and record there. The company solicits brand, partner and sponsor deals, including influencer partnerships and sponsorships of monetized communities via pinned posts or channel graphics; free communities cannot be sponsored.

Founding story

ibble was founded in 2018 by Goldman Sachs veterans Raymond Kaminski, Irving Lee and Eric Albee. It began as an educational investing startup before shifting to an app aimed at deeper, more meaningful conversations instead of quick interactions such as likes and follows. Kaminski is cofounder and CEO.

Business model

ibble monetizes creator earnings on the platform. Creators can charge subscribers between $1 and $50 per month for access to monetized communities, with most pricing at $10-20 per month; 80% of subscription revenue goes to the creator and 20% to ibble, after transaction fees. The company notes that Apple and Google charge it 30% to process payments and that it also offers a web purchase option to reduce those costs. The platform additionally supports tips, merchandise and ticket sales, and works with brands, partners and sponsors, including sponsorship placements inside monetized communities.

Revenue is primarily a 20% platform share of creator subscription income (after transaction fees), alongside native tipping, merchandise and ticketing sales and brand/sponsorship arrangements.

Traction

The app reported roughly 80,000 users in March 2022, mostly celebrities and influencers, ahead of an official launch at SXSW. A three-day SXSW demo connecting official and unofficial festival events generated over 1.3 million views, about 1,000 unique threads and more than 10,000 video responses. The company states that thousands of creators use ibble to host fan conversations. A Built In Austin profile lists 32 total employees.

Latest developments

The company's site, current as of 2025, markets paid communities with native subscriptions, tips, merchandise and ticketing, promotes its Q&A product, and invites brands, conferences and creators to partner and to tour its downtown Austin studios.