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Ecast has raised $75.0M across 5 funding rounds.
Key people at Ecast.
Ecast has raised $75.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Ecast is a distributed network operating primarily within the United States that engages citizens in peer-to-peer public deliberations regarding complex science and technology policy issues. The organization integrates academic research, informal science education, citizen science programs, and non-partisan policy analysis to inform governmental decision-making processes. Through its decentralized structure, the network conducts large-scale public assessments on critical societal topics, including global biodiversity, future space missions, and climate and energy transitions. The collaborative initiative is supported by six founding institutional partners, including Arizona State University, the Museum of Science Boston, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Operating without a traditional venture-backed business model, the network targets a diverse demographic of academic professionals, informal science educators, and everyday citizens. Ecast was formally launched in 2010 by its founding institutional partners rather than individual founders.
Ecast has raised $75.0M in total across 5 funding rounds.
Ecast's investors include Crosslink Capital, DCM.
Key people at Ecast.
Ecast has raised $75.0M across 5 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $17.0M Series U in October 2009.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2009 | $17M Series U | — | Crosslink Capital, DCM | Announced |
| May 1, 2008 | $12M Series D | — | Crosslink Capital, DCM | Announced |
| Aug 1, 2006 | $20M Series C | — | Crosslink Capital, DCM | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2002 | $14M Series U | — | DCM | Announced |
| Sep 1, 2001 | $12M Series U | — | DCM | Announced |
eCast, Inc. was a San Francisco-based technology company founded in 1999 that built a broadband touchscreen media network delivering digital music, advertising, games, entertainment, and information to bars and nightclubs across the United States.[2][4][5] It served venue operators and young adult patrons in the hospitality sector, solving the problem of outdated jukebox systems by providing scalable, interactive digital content via broadband for enhanced user engagement and revenue through ads and music licensing.[2][7] The company raised $87.05M in venture capital but ceased operations, marked as "Dead" in funding records, competing with firms like TouchTunes.[2]
Note: Multiple entities share the "eCast" name, including a New Zealand video streaming firm (founded 2004)[3] and a medical software division (eCastEMR for electronic records, also 1999).[1] This profile focuses on the primary U.S. media company due to its prominence in search results and tech ecosystem impact.[2][4][5]
eCast emerged in 1999 amid the dot-com boom, capitalizing on broadband's rise to disrupt traditional jukebox models in nightlife venues.[2][5] Headquartered at 49 Geary Street in San Francisco, it was venture-backed and privately held, with leadership including a Chief Technology Officer and President, though specific founders are not detailed in available records.[2][4] Early traction came from deploying touchscreen networks that scaled music and ad delivery, raising $87.05M across rounds before shutting down—its latest status listed as "Dead."[2] This positioned it as a pioneer in place-based media, though it couldn't sustain against competitors like TouchTunes (founded 1990).[2]
eCast rode the early 2000s broadband and digital media wave, pioneering place-based networks when internet speeds enabled venue-scale interactivity, aligning with shifts from physical CDs to streaming.[2][5] Timing mattered as nightlife venues sought tech to boost dwell time and spending amid rising digital entertainment; market forces like ad tech growth and youth consumer trends favored its model.[2][4] It influenced the ecosystem by validating interactive out-of-home media, paving the way for modern digital signage and hospitality tech like TouchTunes, though its failure highlighted scalability challenges in niche verticals.[2]
As a defunct entity, eCast's legacy endures in hospitality media networks, but no active operations or revival are evident post its "Dead" status.[2] Future trends like AI-driven personalization and AR integrations could revive similar models, potentially acquired or iterated by survivors like TouchTunes amid streaming's dominance. Its story underscores the risks of early digital media bets, yet its network innovation remains a foundational influence in venue tech evolution—echoing how broadband pioneers like eCast shaped today's interactive entertainment landscape.[2][5]
