- Skylight, a TikTok alternative backed by Mark Cuban, launches publicly after just 10 weeks of development.
- Built on the decentralized AT Protocol, Skylight connects users to a broader network of over 33 million people across apps like Bluesky and Flashes.
- The app supports 3-minute video uploads and plans to roll out features like duets, stitching, playlists, and customizable feeds.
Skylight, a new short-form video app aiming to rival TikTok, has officially launched its mobile platform to the public after just 10 weeks of development. Backed by billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban and venture firm Graham & Walker, Skylight is built on the AT Protocol — the same decentralized social network technology powering Bluesky. With this foundation, the app connects users to a broader ecosystem of over 33 million users across other ATProto-based apps.
The startup was co-founded by CEO Tori White, a former travel influencer turned self-taught software developer, and CTO Reed Harmeyer. The Skylight app features the expected tools of a modern short-form platform: in-app video editing, likes, comments, sharing, and customizable user profiles. Unlike TikTok, however, Skylight’s decentralized nature allows content to reach users on other apps like Bluesky and Flashes, offering creators more control and broader visibility.
The idea for Skylight emerged amid concerns about a possible TikTok ban in the U.S., which led White to preserve her existing content and seek a more stable platform. The team saw the potential in the AT Protocol, which had proven to be a reliable and growing infrastructure for open social apps. By avoiding the instability that plagued early platforms like Twitter, the protocol offered an ideal foundation for building something resilient and future-proof.
White leveraged her influencer background to generate early interest in the app, documenting Skylight’s development on TikTok through her @buildwithtori account. This grassroots marketing approach attracted nearly 50,000 followers, many of whom became early beta testers. From the start, the team prioritized user engagement and transparency, inviting the public to follow their journey even before the first line of code was written.
Skylight currently supports videos up to three minutes long and is planning to introduce additional features such as sounds, duets, stitching, bookmarks, and playlists. White also hinted at innovative ways users may interact with content in the future, including customizable feeds and new gesture-based navigation. The app is now in beta on the Google Play Store and publicly available on the Apple App Store.
