What Was Beme and Why Did Casey Neistat Create It
Beme was a short-form video sharing app designed to remove filters, editing, and timers, encouraging raw, unfiltered content from creators. Casey Neistat, a filmmaker and YouTuber with over 12 million subscribers on his main channel, co-founded Beme with Matt Hackett in 2015. The app aimed to compete with platforms like Vine and early Instagram Stories by focusing on authenticity and immediate sharing. Neistat described Beme as a reaction to the polished, curated content that dominated social media at the time.
The app launched publicly in July 2016 and quickly gained attention for its unique interface that sent videos directly to friends without a preview screen. Beme raised approximately $6 million in funding from investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners and CrunchFund. Despite a loyal user base, the app struggled with scaling and monetization, leading Neistat and his team to explore strategic options for the platform.
The Acquisition by CNN and the Beme Team's Role
In August 2016, CNN's parent company Turner Broadcasting acquired Beme for a reported $25 million, with the goal of building a digital news and youth culture brand. Casey Neistat and Matt Hackett joined CNN Digital as part of the deal, and the Beme app continued operating as a separate product while the team worked on new formats. The partnership aimed to combine Neistat's storytelling style with CNN's newsroom resources to reach younger audiences.
Under CNN, the Beme team launched a short-form video series and experimented with original content, but the app's user growth remained modest compared to competitors. In January 2017, Neistat announced that Beme would be shutting down and the team would move on to new projects. The shutdown was completed in early 2018, with the app removed from app stores and user data archived according to privacy policies. CNN retained the Beme technology and talent, integrating some ideas into its own digital video efforts.
Casey Neistat's Career After Beme and Current Projects
After leaving CNN and shutting down Beme, Casey Neistat returned to independent filmmaking and YouTube, where he continues to publish daily vlogs and short films. His main channel remains one of the most subscribed creator channels on the platform, with content focusing on creativity, productivity, and storytelling. Neistat has also launched new projects, including a creative studio and collaborations with brands and media companies.
The Beme experience influenced Neistat's approach to content creation, emphasizing direct communication and authenticity. He has spoken publicly about the challenges of building a startup, the acquisition process, and the importance of timing in the tech industry. Neistat's career trajectory demonstrates how a creator can leverage a personal brand across multiple platforms, from YouTube to a funded app and back to independent content creation.