While social media is largely obsessed with the here and now, it rarely places an emphasis on the past and how a story evolves over time. If you are looking for a social friendly way of capturing the past and some of your greatest experiences with friends and associates, Chronicle is for you. The platform and community allows you to collectively, with other users, create and document stories for occasions and events that evolve over time. In a day and age where static pictures define our experience, Chronicle employs a broader vision.
AlleyWatch spoke with founder and CEO Steven McBride about Chronicle and how it is filling a void in the social media world.
Tell us about the product or service.
Chronicle is a visual storytelling platform and community. Chronicle empowers users with shared experiences, passions, and causes to record their stories, together. In turn, these shared stories become all of our stories.
How is it different?
Snapshots capture individual moments in time. Chronicle captures collective stories in history.
Where Instagram and Snapchat are focused on the moment and ephemeral, Chronicle provides a collaborative platform to create lasting records and shared history over time.
Chronicle is a unique product and mission that fills a gap in the market.
What market are you attacking and how big is it?
We are focused on 3 verticals + partnerships. Chronicle is a platform for the mass market and our focused marketing approach starts with the following:
- NYC Stories
- Auto & Fishing hobbyists
- Schools/Libraries
What is the business model?
Freemium model: subscription & advertising (near term), addition of eCommerce (long term).
What inspired the business?
The increasing need for an enduring visual storytelling product vs. the ephemeral snapshot world that we live in.
The platform focuses on chronicling stories over time. Why the historical component?
We are all affected by history and drawn to it. History is part of everyone’s daily lives and sense of being. And now with Chronicle people can collectively record and be part of history for the benefit of the greater good.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within six months?
Execution of our phase I marketing and audience development plan. And completion of our beta product development plan which includes the addition of subscription & advertising, and video.
What is the one piece of startup advice that you never got?
Focus your time working with the partners of VC’s firms because their Jr. Analysts have never run a business, and don’t understand marketing.
If you could be put in touch with anyone in the New York community who would it be and why?
Marc and Ken Burns & team. They have shown us all how amazing history storytelling is and how it truly touches us all. I would like to have their input on what we are creating for the greater good.
Why did you launch in New York?
New York is an ideal place to launch a business like Chronicle; the city Amazing history/stories to chronicle, top tech/investor and media partners, and access to an amazing and highly capable talent pool.
What’s your favorite restaurant in the city?
Tavern on The Green, an amazing place opened in 1934. I look forward adding my past experience to their chronicle soon!
